is at most

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is at most" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a maximum limit or the highest possible amount of something. Example: "The budget for this project is at most $10,000."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is, at most, an Olympic queen.

The New Yorker

y is at most log x.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This is, at most, half the story.

The Washington Post

It is, at most, [p392] an argument ab inconveniente.

Cornell University

Then the probability that x is at most x equals the probability that y is at most sigma.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Political correctness is, at most, a minor problem.

The New York Times

It is at most a craving, not a physical necessity.

The Economist

Disgust is at most half of the equation.

The New York Times

The Declaration of Independence is, at most, a deist document.

The Economist

Bed I is at most 197 feet (60 metres) thick.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Yet the Church of Winfrey is at most partly Christian.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is at most", ensure the context clearly defines the unit or measure being limited. For example: "The delay is at most 30 minutes".

Common error

Avoid using "is at most" when you mean "is almost". "Is at most" indicates a maximum limit, while "is almost" implies near approximation. For example: "The project is at most 3 weeks away from completion" (a maximum) vs. "The project is almost complete" (nearly finished).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is at most" functions as a limiting adverbial phrase. It sets an upper bound or maximum limit on a quantity, degree, or possibility. As per Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

29%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is at most" serves to define an upper limit or maximum value. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It's commonly found in scientific, news, and academic contexts, serving to restrict or impose limitations, and has several alternatives like "no more than" or "at the most". When using this phrase, it's important to specify the units being limited to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the most

Highlights the upper limit of possibility.

no more than

Directly indicates a maximum limit.

a maximum of

Explicitly states a maximum value.

not greater than

Formally expresses that a value is less than or equal to a specified limit.

does not exceed

Emphasizes that a value remains below a certain threshold.

not exceeding

Formally states that something remains within a defined upper bound.

limited to

Indicates that something cannot surpass a specific value or extent.

capped at

Suggests a hard limit or ceiling.

up to

Specifies a range with an upper boundary.

does not go over

Informally emphasizes remaining below a certain value.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "is at most" in a sentence?

Use "is at most" to set an upper limit or a maximum value. For instance, "The cost "is at most" $100" means the cost will not exceed $100.

What's the difference between "is at most" and "is at least"?

"Is at most" indicates an upper limit, while "is at least" indicates a lower limit. Example: "The temperature "is at most" 25 degrees Celsius" vs. "The temperature "is at least" 20 degrees Celsius".

Are there formal alternatives to the phrase "is at most"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "does not exceed", "no more than", or "a maximum of". For example, instead of "The duration "is at most" one hour", you could say "The duration does not exceed one hour".

Can I use "is at most" to describe probabilities or chances?

Yes, "is at most" can be used to describe maximum probabilities. For example, "The chance of rain tomorrow "is at most" 30%" means the probability of rain will not exceed 30%.