making the minimum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making the minimum" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to achieving the least amount required or doing the bare minimum in a task or situation. Example: "In order to pass the course, I focused on making the minimum effort needed to complete the assignments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Start making the minimum payment on everything," she said.

The New York Times

She is making the minimum monthly payments due on her loan, about $2,400.

The New York Times

"Making the minimum wage a living wage; renationalising the railways; keeping our NHS public.

The Guardian

"There is no way for those making the minimum wage to survive on it".

The New York Times

But today, a full-time worker making the minimum wage earns $14,500 a year.

The Guardian

Last year's cull in Gloucestershire missed its target, with the Somerset pilot just making the minimum.

The Guardian

The bill offers three routes for making the minimum wage stick.

The Guardian

Wouldn't it be great if conservatives also favored making the minimum wage a living wage?

The New York Times

Their setup man is Chamberlain, the electrifying rookie making the minimum salary.

The New York Times - Sports

There's significant confusion around what making the minimum payment actually means.

Independent

"I'm making the minimum wage plus 50 cents," notes Ms. Simon.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial obligations like credit card payments, specify if you are "making the minimum" payment to illustrate a potential long-term debt scenario. This adds clarity and highlights the financial implications.

Common error

Avoid implying that "making the minimum" effort is always sufficient. In many contexts, particularly professional or academic, it suggests a lack of ambition or commitment. Frame it cautiously, especially when describing personal goals or expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making the minimum" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun. It describes the action of fulfilling the lowest acceptable level of a requirement or standard. This aligns with examples provided by Ludwig, where it's used in contexts like financial obligations and wage standards.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

10%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "making the minimum" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of meeting a baseline requirement or standard, often with the implication of limited effort. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in News & Media sources. While the phrase itself is neutral in tone, its connotations can vary depending on the context; it can be a strategic choice when resources are scarce, or it may imply a lack of ambition. When writing, be mindful of the potential implications of using "making the minimum", ensuring that it aligns with your intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

doing the bare minimum

Replaces "making" with "doing" and uses "bare minimum" instead of just "minimum" for emphasis.

achieving the minimum

Substitutes "making" with "achieving", highlighting the accomplishment aspect.

meeting the minimum requirements

Replaces "minimum" with "minimum requirements", adding specificity.

satisfying the minimum

Emphasizes the act of fulfilling or satisfying a set minimum standard.

performing the minimum

Focuses on the act of performing a task to the minimum extent necessary.

doing the least

Simplifies the phrase to its most basic form, implying minimal effort.

fulfilling the minimum

Highlights the act of meeting a required minimum standard or obligation.

scraping by

Idiomatic expression implying barely meeting a requirement or standard.

getting by with the least

Emphasizes managing to achieve a goal using the smallest possible effort or resources.

just meeting the standard

Focuses specifically on conforming to a given standard, albeit with minimal effort.

FAQs

How can I use "making the minimum" in a sentence about finances?

You might say, "She is "making the minimum" monthly payments on her student loan, which means it will take her many years to pay it off."

What is a better way to say "making the minimum" in a professional setting?

Depending on the context, consider using phrases like "meeting the minimum requirements", "achieving the baseline", or "satisfying the minimum standards" for a more formal tone.

What are the implications of only "making the minimum" payment on a credit card?

Only "making the minimum" payment on a credit card balance can lead to a longer repayment period and accrue more interest over time.

Is "making the minimum" always a negative thing?

Not necessarily. While it can imply a lack of effort, "making the minimum" might be a strategic choice in certain situations, such as when prioritizing essential expenses during a period of financial hardship.