at lease

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at least" is commonly used in written English and is grammatically correct.
It is used to indicate a minimum or minimum acceptable quantity or number. Here are some examples: 1. "You need to have at least two years of experience to apply for this job." 2. "I try to exercise at least three times a week to stay healthy." 3. "I need to save at least $500 for my trip abroad." 4. "At least 20 people were injured in the accident." 5. "Can you give me at least a week to finish this project?".

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

In the State of N.Y., at lease.

The New Yorker

At lease 50 skunks live on Hunter's & Twin Islands.

The New Yorker

Mr. Mackenzie said the company's strategy is to continually upgrade properties to justify higher rents at lease expiration.

The New York Times

Wal-Mart, the largest retailer, said its sales at stores open at lease a year rose 4.3percentt.

The New York Times

Gail: Conservatives were sure that if you eliminated welfare for single moms, it would eliminate – or at lease greatly reduce – single motherhood.

The New York Times

Its upstream basin is inhabited by at lease a dozen different ethnic groups and rated as one of the world's most biologically diverse regions, home to more than 5,000 plant species and nearly half of China's animal species.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Lessees were then obliged to return their vehicles to the manufacturer at lease-end.

The New York Times

Those are getting harder to find as residual values -- the projected worth of cars at lease-end -- are scaled back.

The New York Times

With higher residual values — the projected value of the cars at lease-end — there is less depreciation for the lease to cover.

The New York Times

Ms. Packes said that the lower prices have, in some cases, also benefited existing tenants, who have been able to bargain at lease-renewal time.

The New York Times

Mr. Gilliland said that rising production costs like fuel prices and labor expenses would force ranchers to look at leasing their properties to hunters with fat wallets.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always double-check the spelling of "least" when using the phrase "at least" to ensure grammatical correctness. Misspelling it as "lease" can confuse your readers and undermine your credibility.

Common error

Avoid mistaking "least" for "lease". "Least" refers to the smallest amount, while "lease" is a rental agreement. Using "at lease" is incorrect; use "at least" to indicate a minimum.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at lease" is grammatically incorrect due to a misspelling. The correct form, "at least", functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb to specify a minimum quantity, degree, or condition. Ludwig showcases numerous examples of the correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The search query "at lease" is a common misspelling. The correct phrase is "at least", which functions as an adverbial phrase. According to Ludwig, "at least" specifies a minimum quantity, degree, or condition. The examples provided demonstrate diverse applications across news, science, and general writing. Remember to use "at least" to ensure clarity and credibility. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms the phrase's frequent usage but highlights the importance of correct spelling to avoid grammatical errors. For similar expressions, consider using "at a minimum" or "at the very least".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the least

Corrects the spelling of "lease" to "least", indicating the smallest acceptable amount or degree.

at the very least

Adds emphasis to "at the least", highlighting the minimal acceptable condition.

at the minimum

Replaces "lease" with "minimum", focusing on the lowest acceptable level. Strong meaning change.

at a minimum

Replaces "lease" with "minimum" including article "a", focusing on the lowest acceptable level. Strong meaning change.

in the minimum

Switches to "in the minimum", focusing on the boundary condition.

to say the least

Alters the phrase to indicate understatement or restraint in expression.

at any rate

Shifts the meaning to indicate regardless of what happened.

in any event

Alters the phrase to express something that is done no matter what happens.

no less than

Changes the structure to emphasize a quantity that is surprisingly large.

to a minimum extent

Changes structure to emphasize that a limit is intended.

FAQs

What does "at least" mean, and how is it correctly used?

"At least" indicates a minimum quantity or degree. The correct form is 'at least', not 'at lease'. For example, "You should study for "at least" an hour each day".

What is the difference between "at least" and "at last"?

"At least" specifies a minimum, while "at last" indicates something happening after a long delay. For example, "At last, the rain stopped", versus "We need "at least" five volunteers".

Is it ever correct to use "at lease"?

No, "at lease" is a misspelling. The correct phrase is ""at least"". "Lease" refers to a rental agreement, which is unrelated to the intended meaning of indicating a minimum.

What are some synonyms for "at least"?

Alternatives include "at a minimum", "at the minimum", "at the very least", or "no less than", depending on the specific context.