minimal increase

USAGE SUMMARY

"minimal increase" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a slight or small increase in size, amount, or degree. For example, "The school made only a minimal increase in student tuition for the upcoming academic year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Write leakage and average write power are also minimized at the expense of minimal increase (less than 5%) in write delay.

Microelectronics Journal

For example, in sporadic breast carcinoma, 30% of the patients showed increased expression of DNMT3B compared to minimal increase (3 5%) in DNMT1 and DNMT3A [18].

Plosone

Tenant advocates argued that only a minimal increase was called for.

The New York Times

The city's new water rate of $1.52 for 748 gallons is a minimal increase and a bargain for New Yorkers.

The New York Times

Democrats also objected to what they viewed as an only minimal increase to general school aid in the budget.

The New York Times

This advocacy has been based on state experience with parity and on data documenting the minimal increase in cost.

The New York Times

The Bronx borough president has attacked the budget, noting its minimal increase in education financing and the tax cut.

The New York Times

How can it be that it's only a minimal increase in protection? A. Think of a 30 versus a 60.

The New York Times

Fraport's own studies suggest a minimal increase in the risk of a double catastrophe.

The Economist

Under Mr. Corzine's formula, 20 Abbott districts will receive the absolute minimal increase in his budget, just 2percentt, while overall Abbott spending will increase by just over 3percentt.

The New York Times

Vanguard investors who do not qualify for Admiral shares would see no change or a "minimal" increase in the expense charges they pay, perhaps two or three hundredths of a percentage point, the company told Reuters.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing changes, use "minimal increase" to accurately convey the small scale of the alteration. This is particularly effective in technical reports or formal communication where precision is crucial.

Common error

Avoid using "minimal increase" when the actual change is substantial. Using it incorrectly diminishes the real impact and misleads your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minimal increase" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "minimal" modifies the noun "increase". It quantifies the degree of change, indicating a small or slight rise. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

39%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "minimal increase" is a commonly used and grammatically sound way to describe a slight rise or growth. As Ludwig AI indicates, it appears across various domains, most frequently in scientific and news-related contexts. When writing, use it to precisely communicate that a change has occurred, but its magnitude is small. Be mindful of the possible error of overstating the change by using it when it's not accurate. Consider alternatives such as "slight rise" or "small increment" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight rise

Emphasizes the small degree of elevation or growth.

small increment

Highlights the small, discrete addition or step.

modest growth

Implies a limited expansion or development.

marginal gain

Suggests the benefit or profit is barely significant.

negligible change

Indicates the alteration is so small it's practically unimportant.

inconsiderable addition

Emphasizes the insignificance of what has been added.

scant augmentation

Stresses the meagerness of the increase.

limited uptick

Conveys a slight upward trend that's not very strong.

trivially greater

Highlights how unimportant the increase is.

almost imperceptible increase

Focuses on the difficulty in noticing the small amount of change.

FAQs

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

You can use "minimal increase" to describe a slight rise or growth in something. For example: "There was a "minimal increase" in sales this quarter."

What's the difference between "minimal increase" and "slight increase"?

"Minimal increase" and "slight increase" are very similar, but "minimal increase" suggests the change is so small it's barely noticeable, while "slight increase" just means it's small but may be more appreciable.

What are some alternatives to "minimal increase"?

Alternatives to "minimal increase" include "slight rise", "small increment", or "modest growth", depending on the context.

Is "minimal increase" a formal or informal phrase?

"Minimal increase" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it is more frequently found in formal writing, scientific reports, and news articles.