at the quickest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at the quickest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the fastest possible time frame for an action or event to occur. Example: "The project will be completed at the quickest by next Friday, assuming all resources are available."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Britain's services industry, meanwhile, grew at the quickest rate in six years.

The Economist

Consumer prices in China rose at the quickest pace in three years, by 5.5% in May from a year earlier.

The Economist

Now, here he was, at the quickest marathon in the world, with a chance to break the world record.

The Guardian - Sport

HONG KONG — China's manufacturing sector contracted in July at the quickest pace since last summer, according to the early reading of a survey released on Wednesday.

The New York Times

Domestic orders also declined for the first time in two years, while export orders plummeted at the quickest rate since the 2009 recession.

Independent

500 for several months, some hedge funds are now buying stocks at the quickest pace in two years, Bloomberg News reports.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

New Yorkers, perhaps unsurprisingly, are grabbing at the quick fix.

The New York Times - Food

Rogers recognises the coincidence of opposites, of irreconcilable drives, at the quick of human experience.

The Guardian - Books

Still, analysts and industry executives caution that the rebound is unlikely to continue at the quick pace set last year.

The New York Times

There is no hate". Rogers recognises the coincidence of opposites, of irreconcilable drives, at the quick of human experience.

The Guardian - Books

In 1949, Moscow detonated its first bomb, surprising Washington at the quick loss of what had been an atomic monopoly.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at the quickest" to clearly communicate the fastest possible timeframe within which something can occur or be completed. This phrase sets a clear expectation of the minimum time required.

Common error

Avoid using "at the quickest" when there is no certainty that the fastest scenario is achievable. Ensure the context supports the possibility of the most rapid outcome; otherwise, use a more conservative estimate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the quickest" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates the minimum time required for an action or event to occur. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which demonstrate its use in various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Academia

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at the quickest" is a commonly used phrase to indicate the fastest possible timeframe for an event or action. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in news, science, and formal business contexts. While it is a precise and useful phrase, be mindful of ensuring realistic timeframes and consider alternatives like "as quickly as possible" or "at the earliest" depending on the desired nuance and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as quickly as possible

Replaces the prepositional phrase with an adverbial phrase expressing the same urgency.

in the shortest time

Emphasizes minimizing the duration.

most rapidly

Uses an adverb to emphasize the speed of an action.

at the earliest opportunity

Shifts focus from speed to the first available chance.

with maximum speed

Highlights the highest achievable velocity.

at top speed

Similar to maximum speed, but more colloquial.

as soon as is feasible

Adds a practical consideration of feasibility.

in record time

Implies achieving something faster than ever before.

with all due haste

Formal expression indicating urgency and speed.

at warp speed

Figurative language indicating very high speed.

FAQs

How can I use "at the quickest" in a sentence?

Use "at the quickest" to specify the shortest possible duration for an event. For example, "The repairs will be completed at the quickest by next Tuesday."

What's a more formal alternative to "at the quickest"?

A more formal alternative would be "at the earliest", which conveys a similar meaning but is suitable for professional contexts.

Which is correct: "at the quickest" or "as quick as possible"?

Both phrases are correct, but "at the quickest" is more specific to a timeframe, while "as quick as possible" is a general instruction to be fast. The best choice depends on the intended emphasis.

What's the difference between "at the quickest" and "at the fastest"?

"At the quickest" emphasizes the shortest time duration, while "at the fastest" emphasizes the highest speed or rate of progress. They can be used interchangeably in some contexts, but the specific nuance should be considered.