minute quantity of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minute quantity of" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing a very small amount of something. For example: "The experiment required a minute quantity of the chemical." Alternative expressions include "tiny amount of" and "small amount of."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

A minute quantity of the dust ended up in a river about a thousand miles east of Alamogordo, where, in early August , 1945 it was taken up into a paper mill that manufactured strawboard for Eastman Kodak.

The New Yorker

However, after sulfur removal a minute quantity of a noxious mercaptan odorant is always added to commercial natural gas in order to ensure the rapid detection of any leakage that may occur in transport or use.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The homeopathic practitioner creates his healing potions by starting with a minute quantity of the curative agent (some natural herb, mineral or whatever), diluting it in water by one part in 10, shaking the flask and then repeating the process again and again.

The New York Times - Books

"One of the implications of my argument is that a life filled with good and containing only the most minute quantity of bad — a life of utter bliss adulterated only by the pain of a single pin-prick — is worse than no life at all," Benatar writes.

The New Yorker

And indeed, the philosopher cited above explicitly makes the case that "a life filled with good and containing only the most minute quantity of bad a life of utter bliss adulterated only by the pain of a single pin-prick is worse than no life at all" … and anyway that earth and pin-prick is universe worse be bethan off without us.

The New York Times

It was also observed that by adding minute quantity of a tetraethyl orthosilicate sol into the colloidal suspension, well ordered three-dimensional PS CCs without cracks were obtained.

Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The smell of roast lamb comes from minute quantities of sulfur compounds.

The New Yorker

Humans, unlike the test rats, typically ingest minute quantities of phthalates over many years.

The Economist

The Handler is just one of scores of products marketing the antimicrobial potency of minute quantities of silver.

The New York Times

The attacker will almost certainly have transferred sweat and minute quantities of skin cells to the buggy during the attack.

The Guardian

This assumption unraveled after more sophisticated technology to detect minute quantities of fluorinated chemicals became available in the late 1990's.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "minute quantity of" when you want to emphasize the extremely small size of an amount, often in technical or scientific contexts. It conveys a greater sense of precision than simply saying "small amount".

Common error

Avoid confusing "minute", which refers to size or quantity, with "moment", which refers to a brief period of time. Using "moment quantity of" is incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minute quantity of" functions as a noun phrase, specifically a determiner phrase, modifying a noun. Ludwig shows that it is used to specify an extremely small or negligible amount of something. It is commonly used in scientific, technical, and formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "minute quantity of" is a grammatically correct and relatively uncommon way to describe a very small amount of something. Ludwig AI indicates that it is most frequently found in science, news media, and encyclopedias. Its function is to emphasize the extreme smallness or insignificance of the amount being described. It's most appropriate for formal and technical contexts, as highlighted by Ludwig's examples and the authoritative sources in which it appears. Related phrases include "trace amount of" and "tiny amount of", which offer similar shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trace amount of

Emphasizes the insignificance or near-undetectability of the quantity.

infinitesimal amount of

Indicates an extremely small and practically immeasurable quantity.

tiny amount of

Uses a more common and easily understood synonym for "minute".

mere trace of

Indicates the quantity is barely perceptible or detectable.

negligible quantity of

Highlights the insignificance and lack of impact of the quantity.

small amount of

Is a more general term for a small quantity, less precise than "minute".

microscopic quantity of

Refers to a quantity so small it can only be seen with a microscope.

scant quantity of

Suggests that the amount is not only small but also insufficient.

a drop in the bucket

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the quantity's lack of importance.

dash of

Specifies a very small amount used in cooking or mixing.

FAQs

How can I use "minute quantity of" in a sentence?

The phrase "minute quantity of" is used to describe a very small amount of something. For example, "The experiment required a minute quantity of the substance".

What are some synonyms for "minute quantity of"?

Alternatives to "minute quantity of" include "trace amount of", "tiny amount of", or "negligible quantity of".

Is it correct to say "moment quantity of" instead of "minute quantity of"?

No, "moment quantity of" is incorrect. "Minute" refers to a very small amount, while "moment" refers to a brief period of time. They are not interchangeable.

What's the difference between "minute quantity of" and "small amount of"?

"Minute quantity of" emphasizes the extreme smallness of the amount, suggesting a higher degree of precision and insignificance than simply "small amount of".