essential minimum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "essential minimum" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the most basic or necessary level of something that is required or needed. Example: "To ensure safety, we must adhere to the essential minimum standards set by the regulatory body."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Lead acetate, Fura-2AM, EMEM (Essential Minimum Eagle Medium), BSA (bovine serum albumin), Clotrimazole and GW4869 were obtained from Sigma (St Louis, MO, USA).

Nature

Lost in the rhetoric is the Affordable Care Act's efforts to reduce rationing through mandatory coverage of preventive services and essential minimum benefits.

The New York Times

The media were based on minimal essential minimum (MEM) and coconut water solution (CWS) added in the proportion of 0, 250 50, 75 or 100%.

Animal Reproduction Science

LONNIE HANAUER West Orange, N.J., March 21 , 2012  Professor Cohen rightly observes that the Affordable Care Act would provide "mandatory coverage of preventive services and essential minimum benefits," which would actually reduce the likelihood of rationing.

The New York Times

An essential minimum, and often overlooked, ingredient is how staff and children interact throughout the day and how safe and healthy their environment is.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

The essential minimum intake is unknown since manganese deficiency is so rare.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Subsidy will therefore always be essential, at minimum, to enable this kind of "creative" R&D.

The Guardian

UTR, untranslated regions; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; GMEM, Glasgow minimum essential medium; MEM, minimum essential medium; FCS, fetal calf serum; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; RACE, rapid amplification of cDNA ends; RT-PCR, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction;.

BMC Genomics

Employers sponsoring self-insured health plans are also required to submit information regarding minimum essential coverage in order for the IRS to administer the minimum essential coverage requirement.

University of California, Berkeley

A498 cells were cultured in Minimum Essential Medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and non-essential amino acids.

Plosone

J82 and Hela cells were maintained in minimum essential medium with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS).

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "essential minimum", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes the minimum level to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "essential minimum qualifications" or "essential minimum features".

Common error

Avoid using "essential minimum" without specifying the area or aspect to which it refers. Without context, the phrase can be vague and lead to misinterpretations. Provide clear boundaries or examples.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "essential minimum" primarily functions as a modifier to describe a level, requirement, or quantity. It specifies the lowest acceptable or necessary amount of something, often indicating a critical threshold or standard. Ludwig confirms its correct grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "essential minimum" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to denote the lowest acceptable or necessary level of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is typically employed to set expectations or define critical thresholds across various domains, including science, news, and business. While alternatives like "bare minimum" or "minimum requirement" exist, "essential minimum" uniquely emphasizes both the necessity and the baseline nature of the specified quantity. Therefore, writers should prioritize clarity by specifying the subject being modified by the phrase, mitigating potential misinterpretations and thus ensuring effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimum essential

Reverses the word order while retaining essential meaning, slightly altering the emphasis.

bare minimum

Focuses on the absolute least required, emphasizing the idea of reduction to a fundamental level.

indispensable minimum

Highlights the necessity of the minimum level, underlining that it cannot be done without.

minimum requirement

Directly indicates the lowest acceptable standard or condition to be met.

basic necessity

Shifts the focus to fundamental needs that must be satisfied, often in a survival or well-being context.

lowest threshold

Emphasizes a boundary or limit below which something is unacceptable or ineffective.

critical baseline

Implies a fundamental level that is crucial for comparison or further development.

irreducible minimum

Stresses the idea that the quantity or level cannot be lessened without causing failure or harm.

absolute necessity

Highlights that the item is essential and cannot be compromised, focusing on its critical nature.

fundamental prerequisite

Highlights that a requirement must be satisfied before all subsequent actions can commence.

FAQs

How can I use "essential minimum" in a sentence?

The phrase "essential minimum" is used to describe the lowest acceptable or necessary amount of something. For example, "The "essential minimum" intake of water per day is two liters."

What is a good substitute for "essential minimum"?

Alternatives to "essential minimum" include "bare minimum", "minimum requirement", or "basic necessity" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "essential minimum"?

While "essential" and "minimum" can sometimes overlap in meaning, "essential minimum" emphasizes both the absolute necessity and the lowest acceptable level of something, so it's not always redundant.

What's the difference between "essential minimum" and "absolute minimum"?

"Absolute minimum" refers to the very lowest possible level, while "essential minimum" implies the lowest level that is still functional or acceptable. The "essential minimum" is often higher than the absolute minimum because it takes into account usability or effectiveness.