devote a few minutes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devote a few minutes" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to spend a short amount of time on a specific task or activity. Example: "Please devote a few minutes to reviewing the report before our meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In the few remaining hours before parliament is dissolved, MPs devote a few minutes here and there to discussing outstanding bills to push them into legislation – the "wash-up", as it's become known.

The Guardian - Opinion

The main door opened, the escort committee returned, and behind it was Bush — without his usual grin, but by no means so sombre that he didn't devote a few minutes, on the way to the lectern, to getting in his share of shoulder grabs and soulful handclasps and whispered intimacies.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

She now devotes a few minutes each day to trying to stop spammers.

The New York Times - Tech

Schickendantz devoted a few minutes to Toradol, a powerful anti-inflammatory abused by league doctors and players as an injected prophylactic in recent years and has become the subject of a concussion-related litigation.

The Washington Post

Instead of deciding that that person isn't worth your time, try devoting a few minutes each time you have the opportunity to develop a relationship.

HuffPost

In addition, every day, a monk chants scriptures in the 'protector temple' (gon-khang) of Bengpo monastery and devotes a few minutes to entreating the worldly gods to protect the earth from natural disasters.

Human Ecology

The Israeli prime minister devoted barely a few minutes of his speech on the renewed talks with the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the search for peace in the Middle East.

The Guardian

During a recent two-and-half hour meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan, he mouthed a token expression of support, but devoted only a few minutes to discussing Mr Kerry's plans.What might the American administration do to salvage the process?

The Economist

You will need to find a way to devote at least a few minutes every day to meditating if you want to become more mindfully aware.

WikiHow

Give it a few minutes to work.

WikiHow

To the Editor: Re "Touring the Prado at Warp Speed" (Feb. 14): Surely there should be at least a few minutes devoted to El Greco on a 45-minute spin around the museum.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking someone to review something quickly, using "devote a few minutes" can soften the request and make it seem less demanding.

Common error

While "devote" can have formal connotations, in the phrase "devote a few minutes", it's generally acceptable in most contexts. However, be mindful of your audience and choose a more casual alternative like "spend a few minutes" if the situation warrants it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devote a few minutes" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to indicate the allocation of a small amount of time to a specific task or activity. Ludwig examples show the use of the phrase to request or suggest a brief investment of time.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "devote a few minutes" is a grammatically correct and generally acceptable way to request or suggest that someone allocate a small amount of time to a task. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is versatile, fitting into various contexts from news and media to science and wiki articles. While other options like "spend a few minutes" or "allocate a few minutes" exist, "devote a few minutes" maintains a balance between politeness and clarity, making it a useful phrase in professional and neutral settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spend a few minutes

Replaces "devote" with the more general verb "spend", indicating the use of time.

dedicate a few minutes

Similar to "devote" but emphasizes a more formal or committed allocation of time.

take a few minutes

Uses "take" to emphasize the action of allocating time.

allocate a few minutes

Emphasizes the act of setting aside time for a specific purpose.

set aside a few minutes

Similar to "allocate", but with a slightly more informal tone.

give a few minutes

Uses "give" to suggest offering time to something or someone.

spare a few minutes

Indicates that the time is being used even though it could be used on other things.

invest a few minutes

Highlights the potential benefit or return from spending the time.

find a few minutes

Emphasizes the effort required to make time available.

make time for a few minutes

Highlights the active process of creating time in a busy schedule.

FAQs

What does "devote a few minutes" mean?

The phrase "devote a few minutes" means to dedicate a small amount of time to a particular task or activity. It suggests giving your attention to something for a short period.

How can I use "devote a few minutes" in a sentence?

You can use "devote a few minutes" to ask someone to spend a short amount of time on something, such as "Please "devote a few minutes" to reviewing this report".

What can I say instead of "devote a few minutes"?

You can use alternatives like "spend a few minutes", "take a few minutes", or "allocate a few minutes" depending on the context.

Is "devote a few minutes" formal or informal?

The phrase "devote a few minutes" is generally neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although slightly more formal alternatives like "dedicate a few minutes" or less formal alternatives like "give a few minutes" may be more appropriate depending on the situation.