declined to a minimum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declined to a minimum" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something has reduced or decreased to its lowest possible level. Example: "The company's profits have declined to a minimum due to the recent economic downturn."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Numbers rapidly declined to a minimum of about 6 million people by 1650 via exposure to diseases carried by Europeans, plus war, enslavement and famine.

The Guardian

The superoxide release (Jm) rates declined to a minimum on the PA addition (Fig. 3G, H).

Antioxidants and Redox Signaling

Its toxicity was only partial against cells in mitosis, and declined to a minimum with progression to G1.

British Journal of Cancer

From 1999, the risk of Caesarean delivery increased steadily to a maximum in 2005 [adjusted OR = 1.7; 95%CI (1.6 1.8)] whereas that of LBWT declined to a minimum in 2005 (adjusted OR = 0.76; 95% CI (0.71 0.82).

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

In both thymectomized and unthymectomized mice subjected to whole-body irradiation, the lung-colony-forming efficiency was high 1 day after irradiation, declined to a minimum at 7 days, and thereafter increased again, unless the animals were held in a pathogen-free environment.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In the first 10 years after wildfires, % RPC was elevated, declining to a minimum at ca. TSF 25 years.

Science of The Total Environment

Similarly, several [28], [29], [30], but not all [25], studies show that CVD events peak on Monday and gradually decline to a minimum of events on the weekend, suggesting a consistent day of week pattern for CVD events.

Plosone

In Italy, an additional number of approximately 90 cases per year will be attributable to past exposure up to 2020 and then the number will decline to a minimum of 1.6 in 2050.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

This is consistent with the CT accrual kinetics typical of control cells (Fig. 1, also shown as the gray line in Fig. 3B), where CT abundance declines to a minimum at 6 DAS before exhibiting a recovery.

BMC Plant Biology

Both SHP and STK were found to be endocarp specific, showing peak expression at 29 DAB (the earliest stage fruit) and gradually declining to a minimum near the onset of lignin pathway induction.

BMC Biology

In women who received both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, in whom the mortality rises until 1.5 years to an annual hazard of approximately 0.081 and exhibits a plateau at this level until 6.5 years before declining to a minimum at 8.5 years, the double-peak pattern is not apparent.

Breast Cancer Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "declined to a minimum", ensure the context clearly establishes what is declining and what constitutes the minimum. Specificity enhances clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "declined to a minimum" when the 'minimum' is subjective or not clearly defined. Ensure the minimum is a measurable or universally understood baseline.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declined to a minimum" functions as a verb phrase indicating a reduction to the lowest possible level. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, showing use in contexts ranging from population size to toxicity levels.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "declined to a minimum" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe a reduction to the lowest possible level. Ludwig AI's analysis of real-world examples suggests that while the phrase is not particularly common, it's readily understood. Its contexts are primarily in science and news reporting. It is important to consider less ambiguous terms, such as "decreased to its lowest point", if a more clear phrasing is sought.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreased to its lowest point

Replaces "declined" with "decreased" and "minimum" with "lowest point", emphasizing the reduction and the endpoint.

fell to its nadir

Uses "nadir" to denote the lowest point, providing a more formal and literary alternative.

reached its lowest ebb

Employs "ebb" to suggest a receding or decline, often used metaphorically.

diminished to its smallest extent

Replaces "declined" with "diminished" and "minimum" with "smallest extent", providing a more descriptive alternative.

hit rock bottom

Offers a more informal and emphatic way to describe reaching the lowest possible level.

reduced to the least possible

Focuses on the act of reduction, highlighting the state of being minimized.

shrank to its lowest size

Uses "shrank" to emphasize a reduction in size or scale.

tumbled to its lowest value

Employs "tumbled" to suggest a rapid or dramatic decline.

plummeted to its base level

Uses "plummeted" to convey a steep and sudden decline.

waned to its faintest level

Employs "waned" to suggest a gradual fading or decline, often used for abstract concepts.

FAQs

How can I use "declined to a minimum" in a sentence?

You can use "declined to a minimum" to describe a situation where something has reduced or decreased to its lowest possible level. For example: "Due to budget cuts, staffing levels "declined to a minimum"."

What are some alternatives to "declined to a minimum"?

Alternatives include "decreased to its lowest point", "fell to its nadir", or "reached its lowest ebb". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to say "declined to a minimum" or "decreased to a minimum"?

"Declined to a minimum" and "decreased to a minimum" are both grammatically correct and can often be used interchangeably. "Declined" might imply a more gradual or less abrupt reduction than "decreased".

What's the difference between "declined to a minimum" and "declined slightly"?

"Declined to a minimum" indicates a reduction to the lowest possible level, whereas "declined slightly" suggests only a small reduction. The former implies a significant change, while the latter implies a minor one.