kept to a bare minimum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'kept to a bare minimum' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to describe a situation in which something is done to the smallest possible degree. For example: Whenever possible, the company tries to keep costs to a bare minimum.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Hardy yes, but not foolish: outdoor activity during this period is kept to a bare minimum.

Independent

The service is designed for the non-techno-savvy, which means settings are kept to a bare minimum.

The New York Times - Tech

With the score at 15-15 an uncharacteristically epic frame ensued in a match where safety play had previously been kept to a bare minimum.

The Guardian - Sport

In the Cultural Triangle, visitors may be all but alone, at least on weekdays, at archaeological and religious sites where commerce is kept to a bare minimum -- usually sellers of cold drinks, souvenirs, postcards and film.

The New York Times - Travel

A semi-automated technique of unstructured mesh generation was developed to cluster an adequate density of computational cells along river channels such that numerical errors are negligible compared with other sources of error, while ensuring that computational costs of the hydraulic model are kept to a bare minimum.

Journal of Hydrology

In this way, the correction administered by the weights can be kept to a bare minimum.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

However, poor access to the remote area and the lack of accommodations kept visitation to a bare minimum.

Wikipedia

"I talk quietly and I keep it to a bare minimum".

The New York Times

Equally, political leaders should keep eulogising to a bare minimum, to respect the large number of people who died unnecessarily of HIV, or who suffered at the hands of a decimated health system".

The Guardian

Running their stores like a virtual police state, the Frys, by all accounts, keep theft to a bare minimum.

Forbes

Although acceptable (not preferable) to use when texting women, keep use to a bare minimum.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for conciseness, use "minimized" or "reduced" instead of the full phrase, but retain "kept to a bare minimum" when emphasis on continuous effort is needed.

Common error

While "kept to a bare minimum" is often passive, consider rephrasing to active voice where appropriate. For example, instead of "Mistakes were kept to a bare minimum", try "The team minimized mistakes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept to a bare minimum" functions as a modifier, typically describing a noun or action by indicating that something has been reduced or maintained at its lowest possible level. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "kept to a bare minimum" is a grammatically correct and useful way to express that something has been reduced or is being maintained at the lowest possible level. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's most commonly found in News & Media, Science and Wiki contexts, and while it is not overly formal, it is suitable for a variety of writing styles. When using this phrase, consider whether emphasizing the ongoing effort of minimization is important. If so, "kept to a bare minimum" is a good choice. If not, consider using alternatives such as "minimized" or "reduced".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced to a minimum

A more concise and direct way of saying something was made as small as possible.

held to the lowest possible level

Focuses on maintaining something at its smallest achievable value.

minimized to the greatest extent

Emphasizes the act of reducing something as much as possible.

restricted to the smallest degree

Highlights the limitation imposed to achieve minimal presence.

limited to the essential amount

Highlights the focus on only what is absolutely necessary.

curtailed to an absolute minimum

Stresses a sharp reduction to the most essential level.

maintained at rock bottom

Suggests a continuous effort to keep something at its lowest point.

downsized to the utmost

Emphasizes the action of making something significantly smaller.

trimmed to its leanest form

Focuses on removing all unnecessary elements.

capped at the lowest threshold

Highlights that some upper constraints has been introduced in some minimal threshold.

FAQs

How can I use "kept to a bare minimum" in a sentence?

Use "kept to a bare minimum" to describe something reduced or maintained at the lowest possible level. For example: "The budget for the project was "kept to a bare minimum" to reduce overall costs".

What are some alternatives to "kept to a bare minimum"?

Alternatives include "reduced to a minimum", "minimized to the greatest extent", or "limited to the essential amount" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "kept to a bare minimum" or "minimized"?

While both can express a similar idea, "kept to a bare minimum" often implies an ongoing effort to maintain a low level, whereas "minimized" suggests a one-time action. Choose the phrase that best reflects the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "kept to a bare minimum"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize that something is being carefully controlled and maintained at the lowest possible level, often to save resources or avoid negative consequences.