lowest possible standards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lowest possible standards" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the minimum level of quality or criteria that is acceptable in a given context. Example: "The project was completed under the lowest possible standards, resulting in numerous issues that needed to be addressed later."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

If one takes the lowest possible standard and accepts that as a goal, then Teach for America is great".

The New York Times - Magazine

In contrast to orthogonal designs, efficient designs are not intended to minimise the correlation of the data for estimation purposes, but to generate parameter estimates with the lowest possible standard errors [22].

European Transport Research Review

The lowest possible standard on the calibration curve was accepted as the LOQ.

BMC Pediatrics

In the present study, whenever possible a researcher would prefer to implement the lowest possible level of standards that would make them minimally compliant.

Health Research Policy and Systems

bIn contrast to orthogonal experimental designs which aim to minimise correlation between attribute levels, efficient designs aim to produce data with as low as possible standard errors.

Health Economics Review

Instead they were posthumously handed the lowest possible recognition, the standard Iraq campaign award.

The Guardian

The earliest bands eschewed the standard E Tuning (EADGBE) in favor of Drop A, the lowest possible tuning from a standard guitar.

WikiHow

Project developers require clear, easily and practically applicable standards at lowest possible costs with a high potential in order to achieve good carbon prices, while buyers require that standards are legitimate, credible and that no public criticism arises when carbon credits are purchased from projects certified by a certain standard.

Carbon Balance and Management

Project developers require clear, easily and practically applicable standards at lowest possible costs with a high potential in order to achieve good carbon prices, while buyers require that standards are legitimate, credible and that no public criticism is likely to occur from purchasing carbon credits from projects certified by a certain standard.

Carbon Balance and Management

The lowest possible concentration (fluorescence) of a standard sample that could be used was 25 pg/μl; therefore, points of the calibration curve under this concentration were excluded from the analysis.

Biological Procedures Online

He added: "Many schools set their standards at the lowest possible level for some athletes.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lowest possible standards" when you need to emphasize that something is just meeting the minimum criteria or to criticize expectations that are considered too easy to achieve.

Common error

Avoid using "lowest possible standards" without specifying what is being standardized. The phrase is more impactful when the context clearly defines the subject and scope of the standards.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lowest possible standards" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun (often implied or explicitly stated). It describes a level of criteria that is at the very bottom of what is acceptable. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lowest possible standards" is a grammatically sound and usable English expression that serves to describe the minimum acceptable criteria within a given context. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and can be used to depict the minimum level of quality. While it is not overly frequent, appearing in various sources, including scientific and news media, its use often implies a critical perspective or a focus on minimal compliance. To improve clarity, it's beneficial to specify the subject of the standards. Related phrases include "minimum acceptable standards" and "bare minimum requirements", offering similar but nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimum acceptable standards

Emphasizes the acceptability of a minimum level of quality.

bare minimum requirements

Focuses on essential requirements that are absolutely necessary.

absolute lowest level

Highlights the extremity of the low level being described.

rock-bottom standards

Implies the standards are at an extremely low or undesirable level.

baseline criteria

Refers to the foundational criteria upon which something is assessed.

minimum threshold

Indicates the lowest acceptable limit or boundary.

lowest permissible standards

Highlights the idea of standards allowed, but possibly undesirable.

the least stringent requirements

Focuses on the lack of strictness in the requirements.

basic standards

Underscores fundamental and elementary standards.

lowest achievable standards

Focuses on the feasibility aspect when applying standards.

FAQs

How can I use "lowest possible standards" in a sentence?

You can use "lowest possible standards" to describe a situation where the minimum requirements are just being met, such as, "The company operated at the "lowest possible standards" to cut costs".

What are some alternatives to "lowest possible standards"?

Some alternatives include "minimum acceptable standards", "bare minimum requirements", or "basic standards", depending on the specific context.

In what context is it appropriate to use the phrase "lowest possible standards"?

It's appropriate when discussing compliance, expectations, or the bare minimum level of quality or performance that is deemed acceptable, especially when contrasting it with higher or more desirable levels.

What does it imply when something is described as meeting only the "lowest possible standards"?

It often implies a critical assessment, suggesting that while the requirements are technically met, there is a lack of ambition, quality, or a potential risk of failure to deliver optimal outcomes.