at a safe level

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at a safe level" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the acceptable limits of something, such as exposure to a substance or the intensity of an activity. Example: "The chemical concentration in the water is maintained at a safe level to ensure the health of the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

About $75 million would be needed to keep the reserves at a safe level of six to eight months.

The New York Times

Everyone opened one spade with the South hand, and the problem was to put on the brakes at a safe level.

The New York Times - Arts

The NHS estimates that this year 204,000 new volunteers are needed to ensure the nation's blood stocks remain at a safe level in the future.

The Guardian

The government's Pesticides Safety Directorate, which oversees the licensing of garden pesticides, says that testing is done at a "safe" level.

The Guardian

It needs 204,000 new volunteers this year to ensure nation's blood stocks continue to remain at a safe level in the future.

Independent

An emissions trading scheme that sits within a safe global emissions budget not only achieves that, but by design ensures that the world stabilises greenhouse gas concentrations in the air at a safe level.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Rademakers and others believe that if sufficient amounts of biochar were produced – both on the micro and small industrial scale – the world could reduce atmospheric CO2 concentration to a safe level at the same time as increasing food production.

The Guardian

Taste or odour problems are minimized with proper dosages of chlorine at the treatment plant, and a residual concentration can be maintained throughout the distribution system to ensure a safe level at the points of use.

Britannica

Thus, in the absence of monitoring of intracranial pressure in patients with elevated ICP there is a risk of reduction of CPP below a safe level even at normal BPS.

BMC Anesthesiology

Our standardized blended learning approach using e-learning, hands-on, and simulation offers two important benefits when applied with adequate rigor: (1) it provides a risk-free training environment and (2) it accelerates the learning curve and allows introduction of the procedures on real patients at a safer level of performance.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

The problem, for example, of reliably and accurately identifying factors that allow some organisations to consistently perform at a safer level than their peers continues to be a major area of interest in the occupational safety literature.

Ergonomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing potentially dangerous substances or activities, use "at a safe level" to reassure your audience that precautions are being taken. For example, "The radiation levels are maintained at a safe level."

Common error

Avoid implying that "at a safe level" means completely risk-free. It simply means that the risk has been reduced to an acceptable threshold. Clarify the remaining level of risk if necessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a safe level" functions primarily as an adverbial prepositional phrase. It modifies a verb or clause, specifying the condition or extent to which something is maintained or controlled. As noted by Ludwig, this usage is grammatically correct and common across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at a safe level" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase that indicates a condition or quantity is being maintained within acceptable risk parameters. As evidenced by Ludwig, this expression is frequently found in news articles, scientific reports, and technical guidelines to convey assurance about controlled risk. When using this phrase, make sure the audience clearly understands this, as pointed out by Ludwig AI's analysis of the available data, does not necessarily mean there is absolutely zero risk involved, but that it's been mitigated to a tolerable degree. Be aware of several alternative phrases such as ""within safe limits"" and similar alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

within safe limits

Rephrases the concept using "limits" instead of "level", suggesting a boundary.

at an acceptable level

Substitutes "safe" with "acceptable", indicating a level that meets requirements but isn't necessarily the most secure.

within tolerable parameters

Uses more technical terms like "tolerable" and "parameters", suitable for scientific or engineering contexts.

at a secure level

Emphasizes the security aspect, focusing on protection from harm or risk.

within a secure range

Combines the ideas of security and defined boundaries.

at a non-hazardous level

Specifies the absence of danger or risk.

at a controlled level

Highlights the act of maintaining the level within specific bounds.

at a manageable level

Suggests the level is one that can be effectively handled or controlled.

within permissible bounds

Uses formal language to indicate allowed limits.

at a risk-free level

Emphasizes the absence of any risk.

FAQs

How can I use "at a safe level" in a sentence?

You can use "at a safe level" to describe maintaining a certain condition or quantity within acceptable risk parameters. For example: "The pressure in the fuel tank is at a safe level", or "The concentration of the chemical is kept at a safe level to prevent harm".

What can I say instead of "at a safe level"?

You can use alternatives like "within safe limits", "at an acceptable level", or "within tolerable parameters" depending on the context.

Is it always accurate to describe something as "at a safe level"?

While "at a safe level" implies that a risk has been mitigated, it doesn't necessarily mean there's zero risk. Always consider if further clarification is needed to specify the extent of any remaining risk.

Which phrase is better, "at a safe level" or "at a safer level"?

"At a safe level" indicates that something meets a defined safety standard. "At a safer level" suggests a comparative improvement in safety, implying it was previously less safe or that there are varying degrees of safety.