at at least

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at least" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that something is true to a minimum degree, or that you are making a minimum requirement. For example, you could say: "I need to finish this project at least a week before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He had been shot at at least once.

The Guardian

She put the overall death toll at at least 37, with 120 people injured.

The New York Times

Spending was estimated at at least $10 million to $15 million.

The New York Times

Early morning protests flared at at least eight other facilities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Guardian - Business

Oh, and be able to read aloud at at least 90 words a minute.

The Guardian - Opinion

"This experimental drug appears to get at, at least theoretically, one of the fundamental issues of cancer resistance to treatment".

The New Yorker

Sources close to the Government put the number of people affected by the disaster at at least 200,000.

The Guardian

A witness, Richard Fyler, said the police car was traveling at at least 65 miles per hour.

The New York Times

Hence, we obtain that at at least one of the following two equalities holds:,.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

I'd guess you're looking at at least a $50 premium on similarly-sized drives.

TechCrunch

Comments in the NSA's source code are clearly aimed at at least marginalizing dissent.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at at least" to clearly indicate a minimum quantity, degree, or requirement in your writing, ensuring that the reader understands the lower bound of what you're describing. Ensure clear and concise delivery.

Common error

Avoid using "at at least" when "at least" alone suffices. The additional 'at' can often be redundant and weaken your sentence's impact. Opt for conciseness where possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at at least" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate a minimum threshold or quantity. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

31%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at at least" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to specify a minimum quantity or degree. While sometimes redundant, as Ludwig AI confirms, it's prevalent in diverse contexts like news, science, and general writing. While the construction can be seen as verbose in certain instances, it is nonetheless a recognized and accepted phrase. For alternative phrasing consider '"at the very least"' or simply '"at least"', and always ensure that the minimum threshold you're trying to convey is clear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the very least

Emphasizes the minimum acceptable or expected level.

at a minimum

Focuses on the lowest possible quantity or degree.

at the lowest

Indicates the smallest or least amount.

as a bare minimum

Highlights the absolute minimum requirement.

at any rate

Implies a fallback position or a minimum outcome regardless of other factors.

if nothing else

Suggests that even if other things fail, this minimum outcome is assured.

to say the least

Understates the true extent or degree, implying it is actually more.

in the slightest degree

Emphasizes even the smallest amount or impact.

in any case

Indicates a minimum action or consideration regardless of circumstances.

come what may

Suggests a minimum action should be completed despite of issues encountered.

FAQs

How can I use "at at least" in a sentence?

Use "at at least" to specify a minimum quantity or degree. For example, "You should study for "at least" an hour each day" indicates the minimum amount of study time.

What phrases are similar to "at at least"?

Alternatives include "at the very least", "at a minimum", or "at the lowest". These phrases all convey a minimum threshold or expectation.

Is it always necessary to include the first "at" in "at at least"?

No, often the first "at" is redundant and can be omitted. Using "at least" is usually sufficient and more concise.

What's the difference between "at at least" and "at most"?

"At at least" specifies a minimum quantity, while "at most" indicates a maximum quantity. They are antonyms used to define lower and upper bounds, respectively.