in under a minute

USAGE SUMMARY

"in under a minute" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a short or quick amount of time. One can use it in various contexts such as describing a task, event, or action that can be completed in a short amount of time. Example sentence: I was able to solve the puzzle in under a minute.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Each of these programs is synthesized in under a minute.

University of California, Berkeley

In under a minute the pizza is in the oven.

The Times

MobileWorks got fully correct answers back in under a minute.

MIT Technology Review

0 49 Things have really deteriorated in under a minute, haven't they?

The New York Times

Anything can be staged, chopped, glossed and transmitted in under a minute.

Independent

In fact, Kentucky-born Hoffa can solve a Rubik's cube in under a minute.

The New York Times

In under a minute, it was as flat as — you guessed it — a pancake.

The New York Times

"I can usually diagnose someone with Ebola in under a minute," Dr. Christie said.

The New Yorker

Almost all of them are cut off in under a minute, he said.

The Washington Post

Get your D.C. area weather update in under a minute on weekday mornings.

The Washington Post

Mr. Raja smiles big, serving all three what they need in under a minute.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use “in under a minute” to emphasize the speed and efficiency of an action or process. It's suitable when you want to highlight how quickly something can be achieved.

Common error

While "in under a minute" is widely understood, consider more formal alternatives like "within 60 seconds" or "in less than a minute" for professional or academic writing to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in under a minute" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use, as demonstrated in the numerous examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in under a minute" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that highlights the swiftness of an action or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academic writing. While perfectly acceptable, remember that alternatives like "within a minute" or "in less than 60 seconds" might suit more formal settings. Ultimately, using "in under a minute" effectively conveys a sense of speed and efficiency to your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in less than 60 seconds

Specifies the timeframe more precisely using seconds instead of minutes.

within a minute

Indicates that something happens inside the boundaries of a minute.

in a short time

A more general phrase that refers to a brief period of time without being specific.

almost instantly

Emphasizes the near immediacy of the action or event.

very quickly

Highlights the speed with which something is done.

rapidly

Focuses on the fast pace of the action.

promptly

Implies that something is done without delay.

expeditiously

Highlights the efficient and speedy completion of a task.

with great speed

Emphasizes the high velocity of an action.

before you know it

Expresses how quickly something happens, often unexpectedly.

FAQs

How can I use "in under a minute" in a sentence?

You can use "in under a minute" to describe the duration of a task. For example, "The pizza was in the oven "in under a minute"."

What are some alternatives to saying "in under a minute"?

Some alternatives include "within a minute", "in less than 60 seconds", or "almost instantly" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "in under a minute"?

Yes, "in under a minute" is grammatically correct and commonly used in spoken and written English. It's an idiomatic way to express that something happens quickly.

When is it best to use "in under a minute" versus "within a minute"?

"In under a minute" emphasizes speed and ease, suggesting something is surprisingly quick. "Within a minute" is more neutral, simply indicating that something occurs before a minute has passed. Consider the context to choose the most appropriate phrase.