at a minimum cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at a minimum cost" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the lowest possible expense associated with a product, service, or project. Example: "We aim to deliver high-quality services at a minimum cost to our clients."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

He sank five bore wells at a minimum cost of $200 apiece -- but only two struck water.

The New York Times

Mr. Giuliani, who had an unusually busy Christmas schedule, extolled the economic virtues of his plan, saying that it would provide jobs and an economic boost to the city at a minimum cost.

The New York Times

Another goal is to bring back the 500 Connecticut inmates who were sent to Virginia two years ago because of overcrowding in state prisons at a minimum cost of $12 million per year that was not originally in the budget, but Mr. Lawlor said the contract requires payment to Virginia through October 2002.

The New York Times

Results show that the square-root proportional model provides service differentiation at a minimum cost of system delay.

Journal of Parallel and Distributed Computing

The objective of a heat treatment is usually to achieve a high level of performance at a minimum cost.

Materials & Design

A cost model, developed to determine the optimum values of p and J at a minimum cost, is also studied.

Applied Mathematical Modelling

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Limousines obviously come at a premium and a minimum cost of 50 dollars.

TechCrunch

A team of researchers at the London School of Economics LSEestimatestes a minimum cost of £170 per person and a maximum almost twice as large.

The Economist

The better heat exchanger is one that transfer's high heat rate at low pumping power with a minimum cost.

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

Even though the majority rule with judges 70% accurate is more accurate than both a sum rule with 70% accurate judges and a majority rule with 65% accurate judges, it has a minimum cost at 7 judges while the latter procedures have a minimum cost at 5 judges.

Plosone

But the the University of Sheffield experts calculate that a minimum cost of at least 50p per unit would be necessary achieve the desired effect.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and professionalism, use the phrase "at a minimum cost" in formal reports, business proposals, and academic papers to indicate cost-effectiveness without sacrificing quality.

Common error

Avoid using "at a minimum cost" when you intend to discuss the 'minimum cost' itself as a defined value or quantity. In such cases, use 'the minimum cost' instead. For example, say 'The minimum cost is $10' not 'at a minimum cost'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a minimum cost" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the manner in which an action is performed. It specifies that something is done with the least possible expenditure. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and provides varied examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

16%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at a minimum cost" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to express that something is achieved with the least possible expense. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples demonstrating its use across diverse fields such as science, news media, and formal business settings. While alternatives like "at the lowest cost" and "cost-effectively" exist, the phrase maintains a neutral to formal register and is widely understood to convey efficiency and frugality in various contexts. When using the phrase, ensure you are modifying a verb or clause and not attempting to define 'minimum cost' as a standalone value. Prioritize processes and resource allocation strategically to reach goals in different tasks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the lowest cost

Replaces "minimum" with "lowest", emphasizing the absolute lowest expense.

at minimal expense

Substitutes "cost" with "expense", providing a synonym with a slightly more formal tone.

cost-effectively

Highlights a balance of cost and effectiveness, suggesting a strategic approach to minimizing expenses.

at the smallest price

Replaces "cost" with "price", suitable when discussing the monetary value of goods or services.

with least expenditure

Emphasizes the action of spending, replacing "at" with "with" to shift the focus.

with maximum economy

Focuses on achieving the greatest degree of thriftiness.

at a bargain price

Indicates a price that is exceptionally low and favorable to the buyer.

at a reduced rate

Emphasizes the lowering of an established price.

at the cheap

An informal phrasing emphasizing affordability.

economically

A single-word adverb expressing efficiency and frugality in resource use.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "at a minimum cost"?

You can use alternatives such as "at the lowest cost", "at minimal expense", or "cost-effectively" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "at minimum cost" or "at a minimum cost"?

Using "at a minimum cost" is generally preferred because it follows standard English grammar by including the article "a". "At minimum cost" is less common and sounds slightly less natural.

What does "at a minimum cost" mean in the context of project management?

In project management, "at a minimum cost" means completing a project while keeping expenses as low as possible, without compromising the quality of the deliverables or essential project requirements.

How do I ensure I'm achieving goals "at a minimum cost" in my business?

To achieve goals "at a minimum cost", focus on streamlining processes, negotiating favorable supplier contracts, leveraging technology for automation, and prioritizing resource allocation to the most critical activities.