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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
minimally change
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "minimally change" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to making slight or minimal adjustments to something without altering it significantly. Example: "To improve the design, we decided to minimally change the color scheme while keeping the overall layout intact."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(2)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
4 human-written examples
It has the advantage to minimally change the user's way of working since the electronic data transfer is taking place sequentially from one workstation to the other in a manner analogous to what is done with the paper document.
Science
However, on account of this misrepresentation two more participants whose improvements were graded as minimally change were interviewed.
Science
Gail predicted that risk categories for women would minimally change with the inclusion of SNP data [ 91].
Science
Similar conclusions were reached at lower recording temperature, which would be expected to markedly slow down the kinetic rates of channels and sensors, but to only minimally change the rates of diffusional processes.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
56 human-written examples
This strategy was used because it minimizes outliers' influence on the characteristics of the distribution, minimally changes the distribution overall, and avoids potential bias associated with eliminating outliers altogether.
Science
My starter of organic salmon with braised octopus was wonderful, the fish so meltingly soft, it wasn't so much cooked as minimally changed from being raw.
News & Media
If a writer with autobiographical impulses goes the traditional route, however, presenting only minimally changed plots and faintly disguised characters, it raises the question of why she would opt for fiction rather than memoir.
News & Media
The angle of inclination of the tibial plafond was minimally changed measuring 4°.
Overall, removing nodes based on clustering minimally changes the cohesion of the connectome, supporting the fundamental differences between local properties such as clustering and global properties.
Science
Our data indicate that the presence of approximately 23 peptide molecules per SPION coated with approximately 137 PEG chains minimally changes the overall NP characteristics.
In contrast, swelling ratio of the hydrogel indicative of gel permeability was minimally changed because of multiple hydrophilic groups of alginate, similar to function of proteoglycans in a natural extracellular matrix.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When describing a process or design iteration, use "minimally change" to convey that alterations are subtle and preserve the original intent. This avoids alarming stakeholders with expectations of wholesale transformation.
Common error
Avoid using "minimally change" when the modifications are actually substantial. Doing so can mislead the audience and undermine the perceived accuracy or transparency of your communication.
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.4/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "minimally change" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by a verb, indicating the extent to which something is altered. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and used to convey that modifications are slight.
Frequent in
Science
75%
News & Media
17%
Formal & Business
8%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "minimally change" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate slight or subtle alterations. Ludwig's analysis highlights its primary function as an adverbial modifier, purpose as conveying small change, and neutral to formal register. While alternatives like ""slightly alter"" and ""make minor adjustments to"" exist, the best choice depends on the specific context and desired nuance. When using this phrase, ensure the change you're describing is genuinely minimal to avoid misrepresentation.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
slightly alter
Emphasizes a small degree of alteration, similar to minimally, but uses "alter" instead of "change".
make minor adjustments to
Focuses on the act of adjusting something, implying small corrections or refinements.
marginally modify
Replaces "minimally" with "marginally", indicating a slight degree of modification.
barely adjust
Highlights the small extent of adjustment, suggesting the change is almost imperceptible.
tweak slightly
"Tweak" implies a fine adjustment, making the change seem delicate or precise.
revise subtly
Emphasizes the nuanced nature of the revision, suggesting a refined or understated change.
infinitesimally transform
Uses "infinitesimally" to stress an extremely small transformation, making the change seem almost nonexistent.
slightly revise
Using the verb "revise" makes the change come off as more formal. However, it is still semantically interchangeable with minimally change.
touch up lightly
Implies improving something by making small addition or corrections. It is also semantically interchangeable with minimally change
adjust inappreciably
Using the adverb "inappreciably" makes the lack of change even more evident. It is still semantically interchangeable with minimally change.
FAQs
How can I use "minimally change" in a sentence?
You can use "minimally change" to describe slight alterations or adjustments made to something. For example, "To improve the user experience, we decided to "slightly alter" the interface while keeping the core functionality intact".
What are some alternatives to "minimally change"?
Alternatives include "slightly alter", "make minor adjustments to", or "marginally modify" depending on the context.
Is "minimally change" grammatically correct?
Yes, "minimally change" is grammatically correct. It combines the adverb "minimally" with the verb "change" to indicate a small degree of alteration.
What does "minimally important change" mean?
"Minimally important change" refers to the smallest amount of change in a treatment outcome that an individual patient would identify as important. It's often used in clinical research to determine the effectiveness of interventions.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.4/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested