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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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minus viable

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minus viable" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to indicate something is not viable or feasible, but it is better to use more conventional expressions. Example: "The proposed solution is minus viable due to budget constraints."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Bacterial reduction was calculated as viable colonies before exposure to a disinfectant minus viable colonies after exposure.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The feeding motor neuron M4 was reported to be essential [ 5], but it has since been found that M4-minus worms are viable and fertile when grown on small bacteria (JT Chiang, M Steciuk, B Shtonda, and L Avery, unpublished).

In this assay, the transgenic BicDwt construct was able to completely rescue viability and fertility of the null mutants, while a female sterile allele BicDPA66, reconstructed in the same mini gene (BicDA40V), produces viable but sterile females.

Science

Plosone

Moreover, the complete absence of viable intestine-minus mosaics strongly indicates that PHA-1 is required in this tissue.

Science

Genetics

This strain segregated array-minus Pin progeny, array-plus viable progeny and array-plus viable progeny that were mosaic for inheritance of the array; array-minus non-Pin fbn-1 tm290 fbn-1 tm29019) animals were not observed.

Science

eLife

At 30°C, the transformants containing the plasmids pRS314, pRS314DNA2, pRS314dna2K1080E (helicase minus, nuclease plus) formed viable colonies.

Science

Plosone

Prenatal loss (the number of implants minus the number of viable pups at PND0), neonatal loss (the number of pups viable on PND0 but not on PND6), and perinatal loss (the number of implants minus the number of live pups on PND6) were analyzed as percentages of the number of implants (prenatal and perinatal loss) or the number of live pups at PND0 (neonatal loss).

A system consisting of an HTS-based levitated flywheel as the energy storage unit and solar cells as the power supply was installed and investigated as a model of a viable variant of the mini power plant concept.

Although, as noted above, MS-minus animals grew normally to become viable adults, abnormal-looking proximal gonads were often observed, especially in older adult hermaphrodites.

Science

Genetics

Analysis was conducted on ≥10 000 gated viable lymphocytes based on fluorescence minus one controls.

Early apoptotic epithelial cells (Caco-2) were observed with flow cytometry and the use of fluorescein-labelled Annexin V. Analysis was conducted on ≥10 000 gated viable lymphocytes based on fluorescence minus one controls.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "minus viable". Instead, opt for more common and grammatically correct alternatives such as "not viable", "unviable", or "infeasible".

Common error

Do not use "minus" to negate adjectives like "viable". "Minus" typically indicates subtraction or a deficiency, not a simple opposite. For direct negation, use "not", "un-", or "in-" prefixes as appropriate.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

85%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minus viable" attempts to function as an adjective phrase, describing something that lacks feasibility or practicality. Ludwig's analysis and the limited examples suggest this construction is non-standard and potentially confusing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "minus viable" is a non-standard way to express that something is "not viable" or unfeasible. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically questionable and rarely used. While its intended meaning is generally understood, it's best to avoid this phrase in favor of more common and grammatically correct alternatives like "not viable", "unviable", or "infeasible". Using these alternatives ensures clarity and avoids potential confusion. In formal or professional contexts, the use of "minus viable" is particularly discouraged.

FAQs

What does "minus viable" mean?

The phrase "minus viable" is generally understood to mean "not viable" or "unviable", indicating something that is not practical or feasible. However, it's not standard English.

Is it grammatically correct to say "minus viable"?

No, it's not grammatically correct. The standard way to express the same idea is to use "not viable" or "unviable".

What are some alternatives to saying "minus viable"?

Common alternatives include "not viable", "infeasible", "impractical", or "unsustainable", depending on the specific context.

In what contexts might I see the phrase "minus viable"?

While not common, you might encounter "minus viable" in informal speech or writing, or where someone is trying to create a specific stylistic effect. However, for clarity and correctness, it's best to use standard alternatives in formal contexts.

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Source & Trust

85%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: