a scant amount of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a scant amount of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a very small or insufficient quantity of something. Example: "The recipe calls for a scant amount of salt, just enough to enhance the flavor without overpowering the dish."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

The dressing is a scant amount of olive oil and a generous squeeze of lemon juice.

The New York Times - Food

Moreover, a scant amount of literature is available on considering the architectural flexibility and integration cost simultaneously.

Computers & Industrial Engineering

There is little to distract the reader - no blogroll, no comments and only a scant amount of text identifying each item's name, components and provenance.

The New York Times

Britain has a history of embarrassing failures with mox, including the closure last year of a $2 billion blending plant that spent 10 years producing a scant amount of fuel.

Yale University

Just cut a small onion into fine half-moons and fry it in a scant amount of oil in a skillet until soft, with some salt sprinkled on to stop it from burning.

The New York Times - Food

While the garlic is poaching in its pan, fry the steaks in a scant amount of olive oil until they are flavor-sealed and heat-darkened outside, but still juicily tender within.

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

There were loads of layers – we counted about 15 – and a very scant amount of béchamel and meat ragu, but just the right amount.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

These results indicated that additional bedding above a scant amount improves cow comfort, as measured by lying time, likely because a well-bedded surface is more compressible.

Journal of Dairy Science

The scant amount of pubes on show suggests it is a man who trims regularly – perhaps because he's the kind of guy who will gladly send a picture of his own bare balls to a multinational media company.

Vice

Patients also take a fistful of medications every day to help their tissues absorb the scant amount of these minerals their bodies can manage and to stave off the collateral damage of kidney failure such as heart disease, anemia, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, severe joint pain and loss of mental acuity.

Los Angeles Times

The nutritionist pushed back on the scant amount of meat.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a scant amount of", ensure the context clearly indicates why the small quantity is significant or noteworthy. The phrase is most effective when highlighting a deficiency or unexpected lack.

Common error

Avoid using "a scant amount of" when simply stating a small quantity without implying a problem or surprise. Alternatives like "small amount" or "limited quantity" may be more neutral.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a scant amount of" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun, specifying a small and often inadequate quantity. Ludwig indicates its correctness and usability. It highlights a deficiency or lack of something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a scant amount of" is a grammatically sound way to indicate a small and often insufficient quantity of something. Ludwig confirms its correctness and indicates it is most frequently found in news, scientific and formal business contexts. When using the phrase, it's important to ensure the context conveys why the limited quantity is noteworthy. Alternative phrases like "a limited quantity of" or "a negligible amount of" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tiny quantity of

Focuses on the diminutive size of the amount.

a limited quantity of

Emphasizes the restriction or constraint on the quantity available.

a meager quantity of

Highlights the inadequacy or poorness of the amount.

a trifling amount of

Suggests the amount is so small it's almost insignificant.

a negligible amount of

Indicates the amount is so small it can be disregarded.

a sparse amount of

Emphasizes the scattered and thinly distributed nature of the amount.

a paltry amount of

Suggests the amount is contemptibly small or worthless.

a modicum of

Implies just a small, often barely sufficient, amount.

a trace of

Suggests that almost none is present.

a shadow of

Implies the remaining amount barely resembles what once was.

FAQs

How can I use "a scant amount of" in a sentence?

Use "a scant amount of" to indicate that there is very little of something, often implying that the quantity is insufficient or surprisingly small. For example, "There was "a scant amount of" rain this summer, leading to a severe drought."

What's a less formal way to say "a scant amount of"?

Informally, you could say "barely any" or "not much" instead of ""a scant amount of"". The level of formality depends on the context.

Is it always negative to use "a scant amount of"?

While often used to describe a deficiency, ""a scant amount of"" isn't always negative. It can also be used neutrally to simply describe a small quantity, though the implication of insufficiency is common.

Which is correct, "a scant amount of" or "scant amounts of"?

"A scant amount of" is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., "a scant amount of water"), while "scant amounts of" is used with countable nouns (e.g., "scant amounts of resources").