not below

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not below" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a minimum standard or requirement that should be met or exceeded. Example: "The temperature should not be below freezing to ensure the safety of the pipes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Today price/earnings ratios in most stockmarkets are near, if not below, their long-term averages.

The Economist

Then, having lit the blue touchpaper, we shall retire (above the line although not below, of course) and watch the discussion flow.

The Guardian - Sport

Usually the lowest fruits of both investigated Adansonia species hang not below 1.5 m height.

Botanical Studies

represents behavioral artifacts down to, but not below, the procedural level.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

If not, below are five options for next year.

Los Angeles Times

His was on the floor above hers, not below hers.

Huffington Post

Not on top, not below, not from the ocean -- unless the ocean layer is very cold.

HuffPost

"In Russia, all good things happen from above, not below.

The New York Times

They ask whether this means levels of mercury were not below safe occupational limits.

The Guardian

And I needed to touch down just above our minimum flying speed, but not below it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Fragmentation may trigger a process of biotic homogenization, in which a few species are positively related with carbon storage above-, but not below-ground.

Forest Ecology and Management

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not below" when you want to clearly establish a lower limit or threshold. For instance, "The temperature should "not below" 20 degrees Celsius" ensures a minimum acceptable level is maintained.

Common error

Ensure you don't use "not below" when you mean "above". "Not below" specifies a minimum limit, while "above" specifies a level that must be exceeded.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not below" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. It sets a lower limit or minimum threshold. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not below" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to establish a minimum limit or threshold. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is readily understood and accepted in a wide range of writing contexts. While it appears most frequently in news and media sources, its usage extends to science and general writing. Remember to use "not below" to specify a boundary and avoid confusing it with similar terms like "above". Consider alternative phrases such as "at least" or "no less than" for simpler expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at least

This alternative is a simpler and more direct way of expressing a minimum requirement.

no less than

This alternative emphasizes the minimum quantity or degree that is acceptable.

no lower than

Similar to "no less than", this alternative directly states the minimum acceptable value.

equal to or greater than

This alternative is more formal and explicitly states the condition of being at or above a certain level.

a minimum of

This alternative emphasizes the minimal quantity or grade expected.

at a minimum

This alternative is used to explicitly state the requested lowest level

not under

This alternative uses a different preposition to convey the idea of a minimum level.

exceeding or matching

This alternative highlights that a specific parameter should be at the same level or higher to a given reference.

minimally

This alternative expresses the lowest quantity or grade possible.

starting from

This alternative indicates a threshold from where the value needs to be accounted for

FAQs

How to use "not below" in a sentence?

Use "not below" to specify a minimum threshold or limit. For example: "The water level should "at least" be 10 feet", indicating that any level lower than 10 feet is unacceptable.

What can I say instead of "not below"?

You can use alternatives like ""at least"", "no less than", or "equal to or greater than" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "not below" or "under"?

"Not below" specifies a minimum acceptable level. "Under" simply indicates being at a lower position or value. Using "not below" is more precise when setting a limit.

What's the difference between "not below" and "above"?

"Not below" indicates a minimum threshold that must be met. "Above" indicates a value that must be exceeded. For example, "the price should not below 100$" specifies a minimum price, while "above 100$" specifies a higher price.