minimal effect

USAGE SUMMARY

"minimal effect" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to describe a situation in which a change or action had a very small or insignificant impact on the outcome. For example, "The new law had a minimal effect on the cost of healthcare."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We hope it will have a minimal effect".

The New York Times - Sports

Our intervention would have only a minimal effect even under the most optimistic scenarios.

The Guardian - Opinion

Recent studies on hi viz clothing show it has a minimal effect on motorists' behaviour.

The Guardian

Perfect scripting, it seems, comes with a price: lukewarm attention, and minimal effect.

The New York Times

The decision Wednesday, he said, "will probably have a minimal effect".

The New York Times - Sports

As with most architecture critics, his words had only minimal effect on what got built.

The New Yorker

We expect this to have a minimal effect on forecasts and maintain our buy recommendation.

The Guardian - Business

The paper in Nature concluded that global warming has a minimal effect on hurricanes.

The New York Times - Science

Years of clinical studies supplied little insight into her affliction, and prescribed therapies had minimal effect.

The New Yorker

But Dr. Ireland says the two Sunday services, with an hour in between, would have minimal effect on traffic.

The New York Times

For current customers of AT&T Wireless who use conventional cell phones, the deal would have minimal effect.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "minimal effect", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being affected and why the effect is small. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "minimal effect" when there is actually a significant or noticeable change. Exaggerating the lack of impact can mislead the reader and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minimal effect" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "minimal" modifies the noun "effect". It describes the extent or degree of impact something has. Ludwig indicates this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "minimal effect" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a situation where something has had a very small or insignificant impact. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. With examples drawn from news, science, and business, it demonstrates versatility across various registers. Related phrases like "negligible impact" and "slight impact" offer similar meanings. When using "minimal effect", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being affected and avoid overstating the lack of impact to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negligible impact

Replaces "effect" with "impact" emphasizing the lack of significant influence.

slight impact

Substitutes "minimal" with "slight", indicating a small degree of influence or change.

minor consequence

Emphasizes the result or outcome being of little importance.

limited influence

Focuses on the restricted power to cause change or affect behavior.

marginal consequence

Indicates that the effect is barely noticeable or significant.

inconsequential result

Highlights that the outcome is unimportant or trivial.

trivial impact

Replaces "minimal" with "trivial" emphasizing the insignificance of the impact.

small impact

Replaces "minimal" with "small", suggesting a reduced degree of effect.

little consequence

Highlights that the outcome is of little importance or significance.

modest impact

Indicates that the influence is limited and not very strong.

FAQs

How can I use "minimal effect" in a sentence?

You can use "minimal effect" to describe situations where an action or change has a very small impact. For example, "The new policy had a "minimal effect" on overall productivity".

What phrases can I use instead of "minimal effect"?

Alternatives include "negligible impact", "slight impact", or "limited influence". The choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "minimal effect" or "small effect"?

Both "minimal effect" and "small effect" are correct. "Minimal effect" suggests an even smaller impact than "small effect", so choose the phrase that best reflects the actual degree of influence.

What is the difference between "minimal effect" and "no effect"?

"Minimal effect" indicates that there is some impact, but it is very small. "No effect" means that there is absolutely no impact or change whatsoever.