less than a minute

USAGE SUMMARY

"less than a minute" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a time interval that is shorter than one minute. For example: I finished the task in less than a minute.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Less than a minute had gone by.

The New Yorker

The hearing lasted less than a minute.

The New York Times

The incident lasted less than a minute.

The New York Times

Less than a minute later, Chelsea scored.

The New York Times - Sports

– in less than a minute.

The Guardian

It will take less than a minute.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He spoke for less than a minute.

The New York Times

Less than a minute in fact.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The answer was less than a minute.

The New York Times - Tech

Her time savings would be less than a minute.

The New York Times

It's all over in less than a minute.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less than a minute" to emphasize the brevity of an action or event. For impact, follow it with a specific outcome or detail.

Common error

Avoid using "less than a minute" when a more precise time frame (e.g., "30 seconds") is known, as it can sound vague or dismissive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than a minute" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to indicate how long an action or event takes. It specifies a duration shorter than 60 seconds. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less than a minute" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to denote a very short period of time. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is particularly prevalent in News & Media, where brevity and impact are crucial. The phrase's purpose is to emphasize speed or efficiency. While versatile, avoid using it when a more precise measurement is appropriate. Consider alternatives like "under a minute" or "almost instantly" for nuanced expression. Its authoritative sources are, among others, The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under a minute

Uses a different preposition to indicate the duration is shorter than a minute.

within a minute

Indicates something happens inside the timeframe of one minute.

not more than a minute

States the duration does not exceed one minute.

in under 60 seconds

Specifies the duration in seconds rather than minutes.

a matter of seconds

Emphasizes the brevity of the time involved.

almost instantly

Highlights the speed with which something occurs.

very quickly

Describes the speed of an action without specifying a concrete duration.

before you know it

Implies that something will happen rapidly or unexpectedly.

in a flash

Indicates something happens with extreme speed and brevity.

momentarily

Implies a very brief duration, shorter than a minute.

FAQs

How can I use "less than a minute" in a sentence?

You can use "less than a minute" to indicate the short duration of an event. For example, "The entire performance lasted "less than a minute"".

What are some alternatives to saying "less than a minute"?

You can use alternatives such as "under a minute", "within a minute", or "almost instantly" depending on the context and the level of emphasis you want to convey.

Is it more accurate to say "less than a minute" or "under a minute"?

Both ""less than a minute"" and "under a minute" are correct and generally interchangeable. The choice often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.

When should I use "less than a minute" instead of a more specific time?

Use ""less than a minute"" when you want to emphasize the quickness or brevity of something without needing to be precise. If exact timing is important, provide a more specific duration.