as a maximum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a maximum" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the upper limit or the highest possible amount of something. Example: "The budget for the project is set at $10,000 as a maximum, so we need to ensure we stay within that limit."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Image is presented as a maximum projection.

Nature

What is advertised as a maximum may rarely be reached.

The New York Times - Tech

On a Maryland government website, the Western is described as a maximum security prison.

The Washington Post

But the storage companies treat this as a maximum, slowing down the outflow of metal and helping maintain long queues.

The Guardian - Business

Parker Morris defined these standards as a minimum; builders, on the whole, interpreted them as a maximum.

The Guardian

Despite this we still made use of a local nursery but kept this to three days as a maximum.

The Guardian - Opinion

The reference luminosity is defined as a maximum flux for measurements with a standard resolution.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

The model is presented as a maximum likelihood problem involving discrete variables.

Mathematical Biosciences

The integrated task of tracking and recognition is formulated as a maximum a posteriori estimation problem.

Computer Vision and Image Understanding

Qincheng, for all its notoriety as a maximum security prison, is hardly Robben Island or the Supermax facility in Colorado.

The New York Times

"Though Private Manning was classified as a maximum custody detainee at Quantico, he occupied the very same type of single-occupancy cell that all other pretrial detainees occupied".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying limits or constraints, use "as a maximum" to clearly indicate the upper bound, leaving no ambiguity about permissible values or quantities. For example, "The project budget is $5000 as a maximum."

Common error

Avoid using "as a maximum" when you intend to specify a lower limit or threshold. Ensure clarity by using phrases like "at least" or "a minimum of" when referring to minimum values.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a maximum" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify an upper limit or boundary. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across numerous examples, indicating its role in setting restrictions or constraints.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

53%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as a maximum" serves to clearly define the upper boundary or limit for something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as an adverbial phrase, specifying constraints across various contexts. It is grammatically correct and sees frequent use in news, scientific, and formal business settings. When using "as a maximum", ensure you're accurately conveying the highest permissible value, and consider alternatives like "at most" or "up to" for brevity. Avoid confusion with minimum values by using appropriate phrasing, such as "at least" when specifying a lower limit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a maximum of

Offers a more formal and emphatic way of stating the upper limit, slightly more verbose than "as a maximum".

at most

Indicates a limit that should not be exceeded, similar to "as a maximum" but more concise.

upper limit of

A more technical way of specifying the highest permissible value, often used in scientific or engineering contexts.

up to

Specifies the upper boundary or limit, focusing on the range rather than the absolute maximum.

maximum allowable

Emphasizes the permission aspect while defining the highest acceptable value, common in regulatory or compliance settings.

no more than

Emphasizes the restriction on quantity or degree, providing a negative framing of the limit.

maximum possible

Highlights the theoretical or physical upper boundary, often used when discussing potential or achievable values.

not exceeding

Highlights the constraint of staying below a certain threshold, typically used in formal or technical contexts.

a ceiling of

Suggests a restrictive upper limit, commonly used in financial or economic contexts.

to the maximum extent

Focuses on the degree or scope reaching its highest point, suitable when describing actions or processes.

FAQs

How can I use "as a maximum" in a sentence?

Use "as a maximum" to define the upper limit of something. For example, "Attendance will be capped at 100 people as a maximum."

What are some alternatives to "as a maximum"?

You can use alternatives like "at most", "up to", or "no more than" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "to a maximum" instead of "as a maximum"?

While "to a maximum" can be used, "as a maximum" is generally clearer and more direct in specifying an upper limit. Consider the context to determine which phrase fits best.

What's the difference between "as a maximum" and "a maximum of"?

The phrase "a maximum of" emphasizes the quantity, whereas "as a maximum" indicates the role or definition of a limit. They are often interchangeable, but "a maximum of" may sound more formal.