about one minute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about one minute" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate duration of time, often in contexts such as instructions, descriptions, or casual conversation. Example: "The video will take about one minute to load, so please be patient."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Socially native videos are "bite-sized" at about one minute.

Forbes

Aim to spend about one minute on each slide.

Nature

Cook, stirring, about one minute.

The New York Times - Magazine

It took about one minute".

The New York Times - Style

Cook about one minute, stirring, over high heat.

The New York Times

It takes about one minute to disengage a trigger lock.

The New York Times

Total time: about one minute of sheer ecstasy.

The New York Times

Owowowowowowowowowowowowowowow" about one minute in @robkearney "I scored!

The Guardian - Sport

A 100-song collection takes about one minute to transfer.

The New York Times - Tech

I expect the optimized version will take only about one minute, thus it's quite promising.

Stanford University

The current processing of one frame takes about one minute.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When giving instructions, use "about one minute" to indicate an estimated duration, allowing for flexibility in task completion.

Common error

Avoid stating "exactly one minute" when an approximation is sufficient. Using "about one minute" acknowledges minor variations and prevents unnecessary anxiety about timing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about one minute" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying verbs by specifying duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to indicate an approximate amount of time required for an action or event. Examples from Ludwig illustrate uses in cooking, processes, and general estimations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

28%

Science

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "about one minute" is a versatile and commonly used phrase to indicate an approximate duration of time, as validated by Ludwig AI. It functions as an adverbial phrase, providing an estimation rather than a precise measurement. The phrase is particularly prevalent in News & Media and Wiki sources, showing a neutral register and widespread applicability. For scenarios demanding greater accuracy, alternatives like "approximately sixty seconds" may be more suitable. Remember to utilize this phrase when a precise timing is unnecessary and allow for minor variations to ensure a seamless user experience, but do not be overly precise where an estimate will do.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

around a minute

Uses "around" instead of "about", which softens the approximation slightly.

roughly a minute

Uses "roughly" instead of "about", conveying a similar level of approximation.

close to a minute

Indicates that the duration is near, but not necessarily exactly one minute.

in a minute or so

Adds a buffer, indicating a slight uncertainty in the time frame.

one minute give or take

Explicitly acknowledges the possibility of a small deviation from exactly one minute.

approximately sixty seconds

Replaces the more conversational "about one minute" with a precise measurement of time, altering the tone to be more formal.

just under a minute

More specifically indicates the time is a little bit shorter than one minute.

almost a minute

Suggests the time is slightly less than a full minute.

a short minute

Emphasizes the brevity of the duration, suggesting it might feel quicker than expected.

a minute's duration

Replaces "about one minute" with a more formal construction, emphasizing the length of time.

FAQs

How can I use "about one minute" in a sentence?

You can use "about one minute" to estimate the length of an action, such as "The process takes "about one minute" to complete".

What's a more precise way to say "about one minute"?

For more precision, you could say "approximately sixty seconds" or "almost a minute", depending on the level of accuracy required.

Is it better to say "about a minute" or "about one minute"?

Both are acceptable, but "about a minute" is slightly more conversational, while "about one minute" is only a bit more formal.

What does it mean when someone says "I'll be there in about one minute"?

It means they estimate they will arrive in approximately 60 seconds, though the actual time could be slightly more or less. It's an estimate, not a guarantee.