minus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minus" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate subtraction or to denote a negative aspect or absence of something. Example: "The final score was 90 minus 10, resulting in an 80."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

The plunging temperatures saw Christmas Day night become the coldest night of the year so far, with minus 8.5C recorded at Braemar in Aberdeenshire.In the days to come a brisk northwesterly wind could make it feel more like -11C to -14C across the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia, the Met Office said.

The Guardian - Business

While all the talk this week has been of Bournemouth's rise to prominence from adversity, Rotherham have been on a similar journey, having also started the 2008-09 season in League Two with minus 17 points and under Steve Evans they have won back-to-back promotions and now secured their place in the second tier for another year.

The Guardian - Sport

When asked who performed best, Sturgeon topped the net rankings (best performer minus worst performer) in all three polls that asked that question.

The Guardian

Back in 2007, people thought that the UK, which scored minus 13 points in trust, was the Eurosceptic outlier.

The Guardian - Opinion

The last thing I expect is that on the evidence of the film and amateur documentary – 30 years old – I will recognise Mike immediately as he walks into our King's Cross rendezvous but, even minus the beanie, I do.

The Guardian - Film

It is only seven years since Bournemouth began a League Two campaign with minus 17 points, Howe inheriting a side apparently destined for non-league.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Do we measure his value in on-ice productivity (and if so, are we just looking at his goals and points or at his plus-minus or corsi number)?

The Guardian - Sport

All those points, all those timely goals, making it pretty easy to ignore all the times he's getting hemmed into his own zone and watching as other teams score around him; not to put too much stock into plus-minus, but of the 16 goals the Flames allowed through five games (which, hoo boy that's a lot), Monahan has been on the ice for six.

The Guardian - Sport

The OECD described the global economy as "muddling through" and gave it a B-minus.

The Economist

Barry Poulson, a University of Colorado professor who delights in grading the nation's TELs, says Colorado's is "the most effective TEL in the country" and marks it "A-minus"; by contrast, some 20 states get an "F .So what has gone wrong?

The Economist

His gay bodyguard in Be Cool was the only worthwhile thing in that D-minus Elmore Leonard adaptation.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "minus" to indicate a deficiency or absence, but consider alternatives like "without" or "lacking" for smoother phrasing in descriptive contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "minus" as a general substitute for more descriptive words. Instead of saying a project is "minus resources", specify that it is "under-resourced" or "lacking sufficient resources" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The word "minus" functions primarily as a preposition, adjective, noun, or conjunction, depending on the context. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to indicate subtraction, negative values, or absence. The examples show its versatility in mathematical, descriptive, and comparative contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

As Ludwig AI confirms, the word "minus" is a versatile term used to indicate subtraction, negativity, or absence. It functions as a preposition, adjective, noun, or conjunction depending on the context. With 29 real-world examples, Ludwig illustrates its common usage across various domains including News & Media, Formal & Business and Science. While grammatically correct and widely accepted, it's advisable to consider synonyms such as "less" or "without" for stylistic variation and to avoid ambiguity. When writing, ensure clarity in mathematical contexts and avoid overuse as a vague substitute for more descriptive terms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less

Indicates a smaller quantity or degree; directly replaces "minus" in subtraction.

without

Expresses absence or lack, similar to using "minus" to indicate something is missing.

subtracting

A gerund form, specifying the act of taking away a quantity.

excluding

Indicates that something is not included, much like "minus" in a list.

lacking

Emphasizes the deficiency or absence of something.

short of

Indicates a deficit or being below a certain level.

devoid of

Highlights a complete absence of something.

absent

Directly states that something is not present.

under

Can indicate being below a certain amount when referring to temperatures or scores.

deducting

Specifies the act of reducing a total by a certain amount.

FAQs

How is "minus" used in mathematical expressions?

In mathematical contexts, "minus" indicates subtraction. For example, "ten "minus" five" (10 - 5) equals five.

What are some synonyms for "minus" indicating absence?

When "minus" implies absence, you can use alternatives such as "without", "lacking", or "excluding" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "minus" to describe temperature?

Yes, "minus" is commonly used to indicate temperatures below zero, especially in scientific and meteorological contexts. For example, ""minus" 10 degrees Celsius" is a standard way to express this.

Can "minus" be used to indicate a grade below a certain level?

Yes, in some grading systems, "minus" indicates a grade slightly below the designated level. For example, a "B "minus"" (B-) is lower than a B but higher than a C+.