minimally different from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minimally different from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing two things that have slight differences or variations. Example: "The two designs are minimally different from each other, making it hard to choose between them."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

I mean the possible world which is minimally different from the actual world in which....) Conditional Proof fails for Stalnaker's semantics.

SEP

On the surface, the sentence is minimally different from 25 in containing reng 'still' between 昨天上午 zuotian shangwu 'yesterday morning' and keneng 'may/might'may/might

Lingua Sinica

But it is a judgment only minimally different from a brute, "natural" reaction, a judgment "not in the first instance to be identified with the acceptance of some proposition as true" (Ginsborg 2011b, 177).

SEP

In terms of cell density, an OD600 of 5 clearly led to higher HOBB production than an OD600 of 2 in PBS (pH 7.5), and DBF degradation and HOBB accumulation were only minimally different from that observed at an OD600 of 10 (Fig. 3c).

Bioresources and Bioprocessing

Table 1 indicates that the adjusted birth weights between altitudes, corrected for this uneven distribution, were only minimally different from the raw birth weights.

Plosone

The ODR-10 receptor, when expressed in mammalian cells, did not respond to the volatile odorants 2,3-pentanedione and butanone, which are minimally different from the known ligand, 2,3-butanedione [51].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The leading result of the government's choice agenda is to extrapolate my panicky mood of buyer's remorse from shopping to public services, from choosing between minimally different and borderline unacceptable trousers to choosing between minimally different and borderline acceptable schools/hospitals/primary care centres.

The Guardian

Born and Raised explores a minimally different genre than his previous works, but in this case, change is not only good but more than welcome.

Huffington Post

Associations with occupational and other risk factors were only minimally different.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Another study found that T1pre values were only minimally different in early cartilage degeneration [ 31].

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

In Experiment 1, the ≥1,000 ng libraries only minimally differed from each other despite the fact that they employ different polymerases across sequencing platforms.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing options or results, use "minimally different from" to convey that the distinction is so small that it's almost negligible. This can help streamline decision-making by focusing on what truly matters.

Common error

Avoid using "minimally different from" when there are substantial, meaningful differences. Using it inappropriately can mislead the audience and undermine the accuracy of your comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minimally different from" functions as a prepositional phrase used for comparison. It describes the extent to which two or more entities are alike, emphasizing that the differences are small and almost insignificant. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "minimally different from" is a useful tool for making comparisons, especially when the distinctions are subtle. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and commonly used, particularly in scientific and formal contexts. Remember that while it indicates a close resemblance, it shouldn't be used when the differences are actually significant. Alternatives like "slightly different from" or "nearly the same as" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. When employing this phrase, aim for clarity and make sure your word choice accurately represents the degree of variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly dissimilar to

Emphasizes a minor lack of resemblance.

barely distinguishable from

Highlights the difficulty in telling the difference.

almost identical to

Suggests a very high degree of similarity with only slight deviations.

nearly the same as

Indicates a close resemblance with negligible differences.

hardly distinguishable from

Implies that any differences are very subtle and difficult to perceive.

virtually equivalent to

Indicates functional equivalence despite any small differences.

not significantly different from

Focuses on the lack of statistical significance in any observed differences.

a shade different from

Emphasizes a very small degree of difference, like a slight variation in color.

marginally distinct from

Suggests that the difference is at the very edge of being noticeable.

ostensibly similar to

Highlights that the phrase looks similar, but could have hidden differences.

FAQs

How can I use "minimally different from" in a sentence?

Use "minimally different from" to indicate that two or more things are very similar, with only slight variations. For example: "The updated model is "minimally different from" its predecessor."

What are some alternatives to "minimally different from"?

Alternatives include "slightly different from", "nearly the same as", or "barely distinguishable from". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "slightly different from" or "minimally different from"?

Both phrases are correct, but "minimally different from" suggests an even smaller degree of variation than "slightly different from". Choose the phrase that most accurately reflects the degree of difference you're describing.

What is the difference between "minimally different from" and "completely different from"?

"Minimally different from" indicates a close similarity, while "completely different from" implies no resemblance at all. They are antonyms, representing opposite ends of the similarity spectrum.