minimal risk

USAGE SUMMARY

"minimal risk" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation or decision that poses very little danger or potential harm. Example: The new drug has been thoroughly tested and determined to have minimal risk for adverse side effects.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

I built cooking confidence with minimal risk.

The Washington Post

As envisioned, NATO's mission would involve minimal risk.

The New York Times

Those are the top grades, indicating minimal risk.

The New York Times

Investors are taking minimal risk in buying these Treasury bills.

The Guardian - Business

These were marketed as offering decent returns with minimal risk.

The Economist

There is minimal risk to rhinos and they continue living as normal.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

"Parents' perspectives on the consent approach for minimal-risk research involving children" IRB, 33 6), 2011.

Columbia University

We convert our frequency estimates into minimal-risk scoring matrices for sequence analysis.

Stanford University

Pharmacokinetic studies in infants using minimal-risk study designs.

Duke University

Is 'minimal risk' supposed to mean 'minimal distress and suffering'?

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

The definition of this notion of 'minimal risk' is problematic.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing sensitive topics like medical procedures or financial investments, quantify "minimal risk" with specific statistics or data whenever possible to enhance transparency and build trust.

Common error

Avoid using "minimal risk" when there is actually a demonstrable risk, even if it is low. Overselling safety can erode trust if adverse events occur.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minimal risk" functions as a pre-modifying adjective describing the noun "risk". It indicates a low level of potential harm or negative consequence. Ludwig AI confirms its use to describe scenarios with very little danger. The phrase is commonly used to reassure or inform about the safety aspects of a situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "minimal risk" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe scenarios with very low potential for harm. According to Ludwig, it is considered correct and is widely used across diverse contexts including news, science, and academia. Analyses reveal that the phrase acts as a pre-modifying adjective, reassuring and informing about the safety aspects of a situation. While synonymous with phrases like "negligible risk" or "very low risk", it's crucial to remember that "minimal risk" does not equate to "no risk". To maximize transparency, quantify "minimal risk" with data whenever possible and prevent overstating actual safety. Frequency analysis reveals the phrase is most often found in News & Media and Scientific contexts. Top authoritative sources that use the expression include The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Washington Post.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negligible risk

Emphasizes the insignificance of the risk involved.

very low risk

Directly indicates a low level of danger or potential harm.

extremely low risk

Highlights the extremely low possibility of adverse outcomes.

slight risk

Suggests a barely perceptible level of risk.

small chance

Focuses on the low probability of something negative happening.

low probability

Emphasizes the statistical unlikelihood of a negative event.

limited risk

Indicates that the potential for harm is restricted or contained.

remote possibility

Implies a distant or unlikely chance of something occurring.

manageable risk

Suggests that the risk can be controlled or mitigated effectively.

acceptable risk

Highlights that the risk is within tolerable limits.

FAQs

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

You can use "minimal risk" to describe situations where the potential for harm or negative consequences is very low. For example: "The surgery has a "very low risk" of complications".

What phrases are similar to "minimal risk"?

Alternatives include "negligible risk", "slight risk", or "very low risk", all conveying a low probability of adverse outcomes.

Is "minimal risk" the same as "no risk"?

No, "minimal risk" indicates that some risk exists, although it is very small. "No risk" means there is absolutely no possibility of harm, which is rarely the case in reality. Therefore the difference between "zero risk" and "minimal risk" is real and has to be taken into consideration.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "minimal risk"?

It's appropriate in contexts where you want to assure someone that the potential negative consequences are very unlikely or small, such as in healthcare, finance, or safety discussions.