at a minimal amount

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at a minimal amount" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a quantity that is the least possible or the smallest acceptable level in a given context. Example: "The project can be completed at a minimal amount of resources, ensuring efficiency and cost-effectiveness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Repairing the present trail at a minimal amount of work will make it last for a long time".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

UI was defined as a minimal amount of leakage of at least "once a week or less often", i.e. any urine leakage, during the past year.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Eliminating the Alternative Tax, a measure that ensures that the richest Americans, who have at their disposal myriad tax avoidance schemes, will have to pay at least a minimal amount of taxes.

Huffington Post

That means having at least a minimal amount of business equipment in the home.

The New York Times

She patted the pocket of her snug jeans, seeming to indicate that either there was no cash there or at best, a minimal amount.

The New York Times

Patients who would normally get three hours of dialysis were getting only two, to ensure the maximum number of people received at least a minimal amount of care.

The New York Times

The striving self-maintenance of a living being necessarily generates more lifetime than is required to secure the means of survival, so there is at least a minimal amount of "free time" for every living being.

Yale University

The term skill denotes a movement that is reasonably complex and the execution of which requires at least a minimal amount of practice reflex acts such as sneezing are excluded.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Middle managers rejected the idea, however, saying customers should be charged at least a minimal amount for use of the service.

Forbes

To explain why this could happen, one needs to first understand that an efficient representation of a given number of users often requires at least a minimal amount of feature dimensions to be utilized to avoid any bit pattern being similarly repeated among other users.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The cell pellet was stored at −80 °C in a minimal amount of residual buffer (< 20 μL).

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at a minimal amount" to emphasize efficiency or optimization, suggesting that the resource usage or impact is as low as reasonably possible.

Common error

Avoid using "at a minimal amount" when the quantity is essentially zero; instead, consider using "almost none" or "virtually nothing" to more accurately reflect the scarcity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a minimal amount" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier. It describes the extent to which an action is performed or a state exists, indicating that it is done with the smallest possible quantity or degree, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

40%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at a minimal amount" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that something is done or exists with the smallest possible quantity or degree. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. It is versatile and appropriate for various contexts, including news, science, and academic writing. While sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Forbes frequently employ it, remember to use it accurately, avoiding exaggeration when the quantity is nearly zero. Alternatives such as "to a small degree" or "in a limited quantity" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In a limited quantity

Replaces "amount" with "quantity", focusing on the measurable aspect.

To a small degree

Changes "minimal amount" to a more general expression of limited extent.

To a minimum extent

Substitutes "amount" with "extent", highlighting the range or scope.

At a reduced level

Shifts focus to the level or intensity being diminished.

To a negligible degree

Emphasizes that the quantity is so small it's almost insignificant.

With minimal input

Emphasizes the limited resources or effort required.

With a modicum of

Uses "modicum" to suggest a small but sufficient quantity.

Requiring little effort

Focuses on the ease and reduced exertion involved.

In short supply

Highlights the scarcity or limited availability.

With a low dose

Specifically indicates a small quantity, often in a medical context.

FAQs

How can I use "at a minimal amount" in a sentence?

You can use "at a minimal amount" to describe something that is present in the smallest degree necessary or possible. For example, "The repairs were completed at a minimal amount of work".

What are some alternatives to "at a minimal amount"?

Alternatives include "to a small degree", "in a limited quantity", or "to a minimum extent" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "at a minimal amount" or "at a minimum level"?

Both "at a minimal amount" and "at a minimum level" are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. "Amount" is better for quantifiable things, while "level" is better for abstract measures or intensities. For example: "The project can be completed at a minimal amount of resources", or "The noise was kept at a minimum level".

How does "at a minimal amount" differ from "a minimal amount of"?

"At a minimal amount" is an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb, indicating the extent to which something is done. "A minimal amount of" is a determiner phrase, specifying a small quantity of something. Example: "We spent "at a minimal amount" on the fit out" versus "SB003 cells had "a minimal amount" of minicells".