minimal value

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minimal value" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are discussing the lowest possible amount or level of something, often in mathematical, economic, or analytical discussions. Example: "The minimal value of the function occurs at the point where the derivative equals zero."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

American leaders may keep only those items of minimal value.

The New York Times

Tolerance like this concedes only minimal value to other religious traditions.

The New York Times - Arts

Waste food in our bins that cannot be sold is clearly of minimal value to us".

The Guardian

"Amazon has successfully fostered the idea that a book is a thing of minimal value," Johnson said.

The New Yorker

Times in the 40-yard dash are of minimal value in evaluating quarterbacks.

The New York Times - Sports

That can cut both ways, because an uninformed rave has minimal value to a discerning customer.

The New York Times

The popular echinacea, for example, known for its immune-system-boosting qualities, has minimal value in tea form, Mr. Saisselin said.

The New York Times

He said he was entitled to take some presents -- perhaps referring to the gifts of minimal value that he can accept under the law.

The New York Times

Dennis Johnson, an independent publisher, says that "Amazon has successfully fostered the idea that a book is a thing of minimal value — it's a widget".

The New Yorker

The ban prohibits officials from taking anything from a lobbyist of more than minimal value, like a cup of coffee.

The New York Times

Min: the minimal value of a vector.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "minimal value", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being evaluated and why its value is low. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "minimal value" when something has absolutely no worth; instead, consider using phrases like "worthless" or "without value" to more accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minimal value" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes something that possesses very little worth, significance, or importance. Ludwig AI validates the phrase's grammatical correctness and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "minimal value" is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to describe something with very little worth or importance, with its use spanning from science and news reporting to general discourse. While similar phrases exist, such as "negligible worth" or "insignificant importance", it's essential to select the alternative that most accurately conveys the intended meaning. When using "minimal value", ensure you clearly define what is being assessed and why its value is low, to avoid ambiguity. This phrase is a valuable tool for accurately portraying the relative insignificance of something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negligible worth

Replaces "value" with "worth", emphasizing insignificance.

insignificant importance

Shifts the focus to the lack of importance rather than monetary value.

trivial significance

Highlights the lack of importance or consequence.

limited utility

Focuses on the restricted usefulness or function.

minor consequence

Emphasizes the lack of impact or result.

slight relevance

Indicates a weak connection or applicability.

low priority

Indicates something is not important and should be dealt with last.

scant benefit

Highlights the limited advantages or gains.

reduced impact

Focuses on the lessened effect or influence.

token amount

Suggests a symbolic or very small quantity.

FAQs

How to use "minimal value" in a sentence?

You can use "minimal value" to describe something that has very little worth or importance, such as, "The data from that experiment had "minimal value" in proving the hypothesis."

What can I say instead of "minimal value"?

You can use alternatives like "negligible worth", "insignificant importance", or "trivial significance" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the term "minimal value"?

Use "minimal value" when something possesses some degree of worth, but that worth is exceedingly small or inconsequential. If something is truly worthless, other terms may be more suitable.

What's the difference between "minimal value" and "no value"?

"Minimal value" suggests that something possesses a small degree of worth, while "no value" indicates a complete absence of worth. The first term implies a slight benefit or use, while the second suggests total uselessness.