minimal quantity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minimal quantity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the smallest amount of something that is still considered acceptable or sufficient. Example: "The recipe requires a minimal quantity of salt to enhance the flavor without overpowering the dish."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

His mother and I have always believed that the best treatment for a sick child is to be tucked up in bed, administered a minimal quantity of drugs, if any, and left to let the body's natural recuperative powers do their work.

Independent

Further it requires minimal quantity of genomic DNA.

AMB Express

To improve the network lifetime, each node should consume the same (minimal) quantity of energy.

Ad Hoc Networks

A good classifier model, as we expect, returns a minimal quantity of false positives and negatives.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

In other words, it uses a minimal quantity of resources to exploit available parallelism.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

Beside the conventional flood lubrication, the investigations include the minimal quantity lubrication and the dry milling.

Journal of Cleaner Production

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Calcium and aluminum were also found in minimal quantities.

Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection

You may have to hustle to get them, as more than a few of the watches are available in minimal quantities of just one or two.

Forbes

As a consequence, choice of a mixture with minimal quantities of additive is certainly fundamental to guarantee a competitive commercial strategy, even maintaining improvement of the mechanical and physical properties of the final product.

Geothermal Energy

Information on the safety of triptans during breastfeeding is limited but reassuring, because the minimal quantities secreted with milk are insufficient to induce adverse events to the child [54].

The Journal of Headache and Pain

In this case, there is the possibility that minimal quantities of drugs and their metabolites (residues) which remain in edible tissues or in animal products (meat, milk) induce certain harmful effects in consumers of such food (Sanders 2007).

Pastoralism

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing scientific results or technical specifications, specify what "minimal quantity" means in context by including numeric data or units of measure to enhance precision. For example: "The reaction requires a minimal quantity (0.05g) of catalyst."

Common error

Avoid using "minimal quantity" vaguely. Without context, its meaning is subjective. Instead of saying "Use a minimal quantity", specify the exact amount needed or the desired outcome of using a small amount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minimal quantity" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or following a preposition. As Ludwig AI states, it refers to the smallest acceptable or necessary amount of something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

76%

News & Media

10%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "minimal quantity" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and utility in written English. It's most frequently found in scientific and technical contexts, indicating the smallest acceptable or necessary amount of something. While alternatives like "minimum amount" and "smallest amount" exist, it's crucial to provide context when using "minimal quantity" to avoid ambiguity, specifying units of measure to enhance precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimum amount

A more formal and direct synonym.

smallest amount

Focuses on the idea of being the absolute minimum possible.

least amount

Similar to "smallest amount", but emphasizes a comparative aspect.

low quantity

Simple and straightforward way to express a small amount.

small amount

A more general term for a reduced quantity.

reduced quantity

Highlights that the amount has been made smaller.

negligible quantity

Indicates the amount is so small it's practically insignificant.

scant quantity

Implies the amount is insufficient or barely adequate.

trace amount

Implies the quantity is so small it's barely detectable.

modicum

Refers to a small, limited, or moderate quantity.

FAQs

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

You can use "minimal quantity" to describe the smallest acceptable or necessary amount of something. For example: "The recipe requires a "minimal quantity" of salt." or "Use a "minimal quantity" of water to dissolve the powder".

What's a more formal alternative to "minimal quantity"?

A more formal alternative is "minimum amount". It conveys the same meaning of the least possible quantity but sounds more professional and suitable for academic or business writing.

Is "minimal quantity" the same as "negligible quantity"?

No, while both refer to small amounts, "minimal quantity" implies a necessary small amount, while "negligible quantity" suggests the amount is so small it's practically insignificant and can be disregarded.

Can I use "trace amount" instead of "minimal quantity"?

While both phrases describe a small amount, "trace amount" refers to an extremely small, often barely detectable amount, whereas "minimal quantity" implies the smallest amount needed or allowed for a particular purpose. The phrases are thus interchangeable only if context allows.