at minimal expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at minimal expense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions or decisions that incur very low costs or financial outlay. Example: "The project was completed at minimal expense, allowing us to allocate funds to other important areas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Well used, these deliver great flavour at minimal expense.

The Guardian - Money

These operators sent out "tens of thousands of solicitations and at minimal expense," he writes.

The New York Times

Some military officials are enthusiastic about the benefits of running troops through the exercises at minimal expense.

The New York Times - Tech

Thus, at minimal expense and with no security risk, theater audiences can get a sample that will encourage them to return when the gallery is open.

The New York Times

We faced a state-less enemy – geographically diffuse, lacking uniforms and flags, invulnerable to invading infantries and saturation bombing, and apparently capable of regenerating itself at minimal expense.

The Guardian - Opinion

But today, when everything can be made available to the entire world at minimal expense, it seems absurd to hold enormous amounts of content hostage to the threat of legal action from the odd descendant.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

It gives consumers a great new way to find out when and where the bus is coming, and all at minimal government expense.

The New York Times

And, Mr. DePriest said, it can be done at minimal additional expense, once fiber optic cable is strung to homes and businesses, and the electronics for ultra-high-speed Internet — more than 100 megabits per second — are in place.

The New York Times - Tech

At Ping Pong, the London dim sum chain, you can also to chow down at minimal calorific expense – dumplings start at 84 calories, while beef and chilli parcels are just 123 calories and even king prawn and scallop sticky rice checks in at a lean 271 calories.

Independent

By making faster adjustments remotely, oil companies should recover more oil from the same reservoirs at minimal additional expense.

Forbes

For a minimal expense, thousands of young New Yorkers would have a better chance at realizing their professional dreams by studying to become engineers, teachers, doctors, and lawyers.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing projects or initiatives, use "at minimal expense" to underscore the efficient allocation of resources. For example, "The marketing campaign was launched at minimal expense by leveraging social media platforms."

Common error

Avoid using "at minimal expense" when the focus is on quality or luxury, rather than cost-effectiveness. For instance, don't say "The luxury resort was built at minimal expense" because it implies a focus on cost-cutting rather than high-end amenities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at minimal expense" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the cost or expenditure involved in an action or situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at minimal expense" is a common and correct phrase used to describe situations where something is achieved with very little financial outlay. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is useful for highlighting cost-effectiveness and efficient resource allocation. It appears frequently in news, scientific, and business contexts. Consider using alternatives like ""at a low cost"" or ""economically"" to vary your writing. Remember to use the phrase in contexts where cost-effectiveness is relevant and to avoid implying low quality when highlighting minimal expenses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at a low cost

This alternative is more general and emphasizes the low monetary value.

with little financial outlay

This alternative emphasizes the financial investment aspect and uses more formal vocabulary.

at a negligible price

This alternative highlights that the price is so small it's almost not worth considering.

at a reduced cost

This alternative suggests the price was lowered, implying there was an expense but its magnitude has decreased.

at bargain rates

This alternative is less formal and suggests you're getting exceptional value for your money.

at budget prices

This is commonly used, highlighting an affordability aspect.

with minimal investment

This swaps out "expense" for "investment", focusing on the resources put in.

cost-effectively

This alternative is an adverb, describing how something is done in a way that saves money.

economically

This term refers broadly to management of money, materials, and resources, and points out that there is a good degree of thriftiness.

cheaply

This alternative is the most direct and simple way to convey the idea of low cost.

FAQs

How can I rephrase the sentence "This was completed at minimal expense"?

Alternatives include: "This was completed "at a low cost"", "This was completed "economically"", or "This was completed "cost effectively"".

Is it correct to say "at minimal costs"?

While "at minimal costs" is understandable, "at minimal expense" is more common and grammatically preferred. Using "expense" emphasizes the overall expenditure, whereas "costs" can refer to individual items. You can use "at minimal cost" instead.

What is the difference between "at minimal expense" and "at no expense"?

"At minimal expense" indicates a very small cost was incurred. "At no expense" means there was absolutely no cost involved. For example, if something is free, it's "at no expense"; if it's heavily discounted, it might be "at minimal expense".

When is it appropriate to use "at minimal expense" in writing?

Use "at minimal expense" when you want to emphasize that something was achieved or done with very little money or resources. It's suitable when highlighting efficiency and cost-effectiveness, such as in project reports, business plans, or news articles.