decrease to a minimum

USAGE SUMMARY

'decrease to a minimum' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize a reduction in the amount of something. For example, "We need to decrease our energy consumption to a minimum in order to protect the environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Results: Both sensory and motor thresholds showed a smooth decrease to a minimum at approximately 3kHz.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Instead, the drag forces decrease to a minimum values at first and then increase gradually.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

Efficiency with inserts below 1 kb linearly decreased with size, while sizes between 1 and 2 kb showed a further decrease to a minimum of 5% of an original "empty" SIN-vector.

Journal of Biotechnology

The temperature dependence of the relative resistivity of isotropic high-density graphite, extruded graphite and graphite sheets showed an initial decrease to a minimum at around 600 °C followed by a linear increase up to 3000 °C.

Carbon

It first increases to a maximum as x is increased from 0 to ca. 0.1, then experiences a 102 fold decrease to a minimum at x = ca. 0.4, where the LPEI has been protonated to its limit and the dominating anion is HPO42–.

Electrochimica Acta

It is necessary to decrease to a minimum the dependence of the rate of carp growth on temperature variations.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It then decreases to a minimum when LDCSA strongly competes with TNSA.

Nature

However, for angle dependent current, it decreases to a minimum value and then increases with angle.

Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials

With an increase of temperature, total emittance of the powdered sample decreases to a minimum value around 1200 K.

Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science

Once the thermal efficiency decreases to a minimum acceptable level, cleaning of the equipment becomes necessary to restore the performance.

Energy

In the South Atlantic up to latitude 40° S, the temperature first decreases to a minimum between 3,000 and 4,000 feet (900 and 1,200 metres).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decrease to a minimum", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being reduced and what the implications of reaching that minimum are. For example, "We should decrease risks to a minimum by implementing these safety measures."

Common error

Avoid using "decrease to a minimum" in informal writing or casual conversation, as it can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "reduce as much as possible" or "keep to a minimum" in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decrease to a minimum" functions as a modifier, typically within a clause, to indicate the extent to which something should be reduced. It often appears in scientific and technical contexts, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decrease to a minimum" is a grammatically sound phrase used to convey the aim of reducing something to its lowest possible level. While correct, Ludwig analysis shows that it appears primarily in scientific contexts. Therefore, while usable, it could be considered overly formal for general or informal writing and you could select less technical and more plain alternatives. Also, considering the Ludwig AI analysis, in some scenarios it may be more effective to simply use 'minimize'.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce to the lowest level

Emphasizes the act of bringing something down to its absolute bottom.

minimize to the greatest extent

Highlights the act of making something as small as possible.

cut down to rock bottom

Focuses on reduction to the absolute base or lowest point.

lower to the nadir

Uses a more technical term for the lowest point in a process or measurement.

diminish to the smallest degree

Emphasizes the reduction to an almost imperceptible level.

trim to the bare essentials

Focuses on reducing something by removing all non-essential components.

bring down to its floor

Highlights a descent or lowering to a foundational limit.

pare back to ground zero

Suggests stripping away everything until only the most basic element remains.

scale back to its base

Implies a strategic reduction to a fundamental starting point.

curtail to the uttermost

Focuses on limiting or restricting something to the furthest extent possible.

FAQs

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

You can use "decrease to a minimum" to describe reducing something to its lowest possible level. For example, "The company aimed to "decrease costs to a minimum" by streamlining operations."

What's the difference between "decrease to a minimum" and "reduce to a minimum"?

While similar, "decrease to a minimum" emphasizes the process of becoming smaller, whereas "reduce to a minimum" focuses on the action of making something smaller. Both are largely interchangeable, but the nuance can slightly alter the tone.

What can I say instead of "decrease to a minimum"?

You can use alternatives like "reduce to the lowest level", "minimize to the greatest extent", or "cut down to rock bottom" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "decrease to a minimum" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable in formal writing, consider your audience and the overall tone. In some cases, a simpler phrasing like "minimize" or "reduce as much as possible" might be more effective.