just under a minute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just under a minute" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a duration that is slightly less than one minute, often in contexts related to timing or duration of events. Example: "The video lasts just under a minute, making it perfect for a quick overview."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

They amounted to just under a minute of music.

The New York Times

A Garnett layup gave Boston an 89-86 lead with just under a minute to play.

The New York Times - Sports

First, the Giants took their lead with just under a minute to go on a mistake by Ahmad Bradhsaw.

The Economist

The Bengals had surrendered the lead to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and just under a minute remained in the game.

The New York Times - Sports

Regardless of whether patients had relatives in the ward, for example, medical staff took just under a minute to assess airway function.

The New York Times

Columbia went for a first down on fourth-and-1, this time at its 43-yard line with just under a minute left.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

The Czech's 6-3 6-0 vintory in just 55 minutes not only meant that she earned just under £16,300 a minute for her afternoon's tuition but also represented the most flawless performance in a career that has been as much about missed chances as championships.

BBC

Rooney, to put it another way, earns roughly £42,850 a day, £1,785 every hour or just under £30 a minute.

The Guardian - Sport

Service fees range from just under $2 to $7 a minute.

Forbes

And June, the average user spent just under 43 minutes a day using mobile applications versus an average 64 minutes using the Internet.

TechCrunch

His woes continued down the 2011 stretch, when he averaged 9.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in just under 24 minutes a game, mostly off the bench.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just under a minute" when you need to convey a sense of near-completeness or anticipation of reaching a full minute, especially when the exact number of seconds isn't critical but the proximity to a minute is relevant.

Common error

Avoid using "just under a minute" when precision is needed. If the exact duration in seconds is crucial, provide the specific number instead of relying on an approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just under a minute" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb by indicating the duration of an action or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sports

25%

Tech

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "just under a minute" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for indicating a duration slightly less than a full minute. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and our analysis shows it's most commonly found in News & Media and Sports contexts. While generally neutral in register, it's essential to avoid using it when precision is needed, opting instead for specific measurements. Consider alternatives like "almost a minute" or "nearly a minute" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost a minute

Uses "almost" instead of "just under", indicating a slightly less precise approximation.

nearly a minute

Employs "nearly" to convey a sense of closeness to the one-minute mark.

close to a minute

Replaces "just under" with "close to", suggesting proximity to the specified duration.

a little under a minute

Adds "a little" for a more informal and less precise indication.

less than a minute

States the duration is less than a minute without specifying how close it is.

not quite a minute

Employs "not quite" to express that the duration falls short of a minute.

fractionally less than a minute

Uses "fractionally less" to emphasize a very small difference from a full minute.

seconds away from a minute

Focuses on the remaining seconds to reach a full minute.

around 50 seconds

Quantifies it to a specific amount of seconds.

a short time

Generalizes the timeframe to a short duration without specifying the amount of seconds.

FAQs

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

You can use "just under a minute" to describe the duration of an event or activity, like: "The commercial break lasted "just under a minute"." or "She completed the task in "just under a minute"".

What's a more formal way to say "just under a minute"?

A more formal way to phrase it is "approximately 50 seconds" if the situation requires precision. Alternatively, "almost a minute" or "nearly a minute" maintain a formal tone while conveying a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "less than a minute" or "just under a minute"?

"Just under a minute" implies a duration very close to one minute. "Less than a minute" is more general and doesn't specify how close it is to the minute. The choice depends on the level of detail you want to convey.

What are some situations where I should avoid using "just under a minute"?

Avoid using "just under a minute" in technical or scientific contexts where precise measurements are required. In such cases, specify the exact number of seconds or use a more precise unit of time.