at its minimum

USAGE SUMMARY

"at its minimum" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used as an adverbial phrase to describe the lowest or minimum level of something. Example: The company strives to keep its carbon emissions at a minimum, implementing various sustainability measures.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Last year, the ice cap shrank at a record-breaking pace; at its minimum it was almost 39percentt smaller than the average from 1979 to 2000.

The New York Times

As the flow rate reduced, its radial position decreased with a linear-to-nonlinear transition and it was extinguished at its minimum radial position.

Combustion and Flame

Butter the bread on one side and place it in a cold oven at its minimum temperature setting.

WikiHow

This was the time during the day where the noise was at its minimum.

The New Yorker

At its minimum 10-milligram dose, Lipitor reduces bad cholesterol an average of 39percentt.

The New York Times

This is the location where the electric field is at its minimum intensity.

Microwave-RF Applicators and Probes for Material Heating, Sensing, and Plasma Generation A Design Guide

When the nozzle was fully premixed, the temperature difference was at its minimum.

Applied Thermal Engineering

At a time when atmospheric carbon dioxide is usually at its minimum, the monthly value failed to drop below 400 parts per million (ppm).

The Guardian

By definition, the focal point is where the quadratic function is at its minimum and the optical axis goes through this point.

Harvard University

Its American authors found the greatest rise in the Arctic's temperature during autumn, when the sea ice is at its minimum, over newly exposed sea.

The Economist

Introducing this workflow, and how the proposed workflow reduces the volume of post-optimization paneling waste by 2% at its minimum are the major findings here.

Automation in Construction

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at its minimum" to clearly indicate the lowest possible value, degree, or extent of something. This is particularly effective in scientific, technical, and formal writing where precision is key.

Common error

Avoid using "at its minimum" when you actually mean "in a minute" or "momentarily". The former refers to a quantity or degree, while the latter refers to time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at its minimum" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when something is at its lowest level or extent. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and wide applicability, as shown in the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at its minimum" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate the lowest possible value, degree, or extent of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across diverse contexts, particularly in scientific and news media sources. When writing, it's crucial to use "its" correctly (possessive pronoun) and to avoid confusion with time-related expressions like "in a minute". For situations requiring alternative phrasing, options like "at its lowest point" or "at the lower limit" offer similar meanings. Remember, "at its minimum" serves to provide precise information about a state or condition, making it valuable in technical and formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at its lowest point

Replaces "minimum" with "lowest point", emphasizing a position rather than a degree.

at the bottom

Simple and direct, indicating the lowest physical or metaphorical position.

at its nadir

Uses a more formal and technical term, "nadir", to indicate the lowest point.

at the lower limit

Focuses on the boundary of a scale or range.

at its ebb

Borrowing from the metaphor of tides, it suggests a period of decline or decrease.

at its smallest extent

Emphasizes the size or scope being the least.

at the base level

Highlights the foundational or starting level.

at rock bottom

Implies a state of being at the absolute lowest possible level, often with negative connotations.

at the floor

Suggests a limit has been reached, preventing further decrease.

at the very least

Indicates the smallest acceptable or possible condition.

FAQs

How can I use "at its minimum" in a sentence?

Use "at its minimum" to describe when something reaches its lowest possible level. For example, "The sea ice is "at its minimum" in September."

What are some alternatives to saying "at its minimum"?

You can use phrases like "at its lowest point", "at its nadir", or "at the lower limit" depending on the context.

Is "at it's minimum" grammatically correct?

No, "at it's minimum" is incorrect. The correct phrase is ""at its minimum"", using the possessive pronoun "its" instead of the contraction "it's".

When is it appropriate to use "at its minimum" in formal writing?

It is appropriate in any context where you need to specify the lowest possible value or extent of something, particularly in scientific, technical, or business reports. In less formal contexts, alternatives like "at the very least" might be more suitable.