minimally

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'minimally' is correct and can be used in written English.
'Minimally' is an adverb and can be used to describe something that is done or done with a small or minimal amount, or to a minimal degree or extent. For example, you could say: "I minimally exercised today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This consists of more than 20 clinical tests and is reckoned not only to enable doctors to distinguish patients in a vegetative state from those with minimal consciousness, but also to identify those who were previously in a minimally conscious state but have emerged from it.

The Economist

In the course of their exchanges, Rudin called Angelina Jolie "a minimally talented spoiled brat" with a "rampaging ego".

The Guardian - Film

Then, officers must fill out paperwork in the uniform crime reporting system to tally the death, and then fill out extra paperwork to minimally describe it.

The Guardian

Just about every leader who has been focusing on Ebola is saying what lessons can we learn for the next time Dr David Nabarro, UN Ebola lead co-ordinator But Nabarro said: "I'd rather have empty or minimally filled treatment centres than overflowing treatment centres.

The Guardian

And, in the moment when a score would have been legitimate, Lovell's shot, slightly miscued and minimally deflected by Steve Davis, hit Alexander's right post.

The Guardian - Sport

"If Mr Blatter were minimally concerned about football, he would have given up of the re-election.

The Guardian - Sport

A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association notes that though robotically assisted surgeries do not necessarily bring better results than minimally invasive human-only surgeries, it is much easier for doctors to learn and master robotically assisted techniques.

The Economist

He insists that behind its self-confident exterior, the Karimov regime is brittle and nervous, because it knows that it would lose any electoral contest that was minimally fair.Mr Salih first fled to Turkey in 1993 but was asked to leave by then President Demirel, under pressure from Mr Karimov.

The Economist

So public colleges and universities need to craft admissions policies that use race minimally for maximal gains.

The Economist

To provide the necessary future headroom even for minimally counter-cyclical fiscal policy, most need to raise taxes and cut spending now.

The Economist

Instead, they seek the language that is understood, at least minimally, by all.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "minimally" to precisely convey the idea of something being done to the smallest possible extent, avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

While "minimally" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in very formal writing. Consider more sophisticated synonyms to add nuance and avoid sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "minimally" functions primarily to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating a small degree or extent. It emphasizes that an action, quality, or characteristic is present but only to a minimal degree. Ludwig AI confirms that it follows standard grammatical rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "minimally" is a versatile adverb used to denote that something is done to the smallest degree possible. Ludwig AI indicates that the word is grammatically correct. As shown by Ludwig, it's commonly used in news articles, scientific writing, and business communications to ensure accuracy and avoid overstatement. While highly versatile, be mindful of overuse in more formal writing contexts where more descriptive words may be preferable. Remember to consider alternatives like "slightly", "barely", or "to a minimal extent" to better suit the context of the work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to a minimal extent

Replaces the single word adverb with a prepositional phrase, adding emphasis to the degree.

to the slightest degree

Emphasizes the smallness of the degree, suggesting almost imperceptible action.

in a limited way

Focuses on the restriction or constraint of the action or quality.

just barely

Indicates that something is only achieved or present by a narrow margin.

at least

Indicates a minimum requirement or expectation.

scarcely

Emphasizes the rarity or infrequency of something, suggesting it is present but almost not.

hardly

Similar to scarcely, but can also imply difficulty.

only just

Highlights the narrow margin by which something is achieved.

in the slightest

Similar to 'to the slightest degree' but used more commonly in negative contexts.

with minimal effort

Focuses on the low amount of effort required or expended.

FAQs

How can I use "minimally" in a sentence?

You can use "minimally" to indicate that something is done to the smallest possible degree. For example, "The project was "minimally" funded", or "He was "minimally" involved in the decision-making process".

What are some alternatives to using "minimally"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "slightly", "barely", or "to a minimal extent". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the impact was minimally significant"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. It means the impact was only slightly significant. You could also say "the impact was "slightly significant"" or "the impact was of "minimal significance"".

What's the difference between "minimally" and "minimally acceptable"?

"Minimally" describes the degree to which something is done. "Minimally acceptable" describes something that meets the lowest acceptable standard or requirement. For example, "the requirements were "minimally" specified", versus "the outcome was "minimally acceptable"".