one minute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "one minute" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something will happen in an instant (e.g. "It will take me just one minute to finish cleaning up").

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now hold on one minute.

Huffington Post

"We get on one minute.

Huffington Post

But hold on just one minute.

TechCrunch

One minute.

The New Yorker

One minute later: "Now".

The New York Times - Arts

One minute he's laughing maniacally.

The New York Times

One minute passed, then two.

The New York Times - Sports

One minute left.

The Guardian - Sport

"Just one minute, please.

The Guardian - Sport

Beat batter one minute.

The New York Times

"You have one minute.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "one minute" to indicate a specific, short duration of time. It's appropriate for both formal and informal contexts where you need to convey brevity.

Common error

Avoid using "one minute" when you actually mean a more general "short time". If the exact duration isn't critical, consider using phrases like "a moment" or "a short while" to avoid giving a false impression of precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one minute" primarily functions as a noun phrase acting as an adverbial modifier, specifying the duration of an action or event. Ludwig shows examples ranging from precise measurements of time to requests for brief attention.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "one minute" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote a short duration. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. It's appropriate for various contexts, from news reports and scientific studies to everyday conversations. Its precise nature makes it suitable for situations where a specific timeframe is needed, while alternatives like "a moment" may be better for vaguer durations. When writing, be mindful of whether the specific "one minute" timeframe is accurate to avoid misleading your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a brief moment

Emphasizes the brevity of the time period.

a short while

Suggests a small amount of time, similar to a minute.

just a second

Uses a different unit of time to indicate a very short delay.

give me a moment

Asks for a short period of time from someone.

a quick sec

An informal way of saying "just a second".

in a jiffy

An informal idiom meaning very quickly.

momentarily

Indicates something will happen very soon.

in short order

Suggests that something will be done quickly and efficiently.

in a heartbeat

An idiom meaning immediately or very quickly.

before you know it

Emphasizes how quickly something will happen.

FAQs

How can I use "one minute" in a sentence?

You can use "one minute" to indicate a brief amount of time, as in "I'll be there in "one minute"" or "Can I have "one minute" of your time?".

What's the difference between "one minute" and "one moment"?

"One minute" refers to a specific unit of time, while "one moment" ("one moment") is less precise and implies a very short, unspecified amount of time. Use "one minute" when the duration is somewhat important.

Is it more appropriate to say "in a minute" or "in one minute"?

Both are correct, but "in "one minute"" is slightly more specific. "In a minute" is more conversational and implies a short, indefinite amount of time close to a minute.

What can I say instead of "just a minute"?

Alternatives include "just a second", "give me a "moment"", or "hold "on a sec"", depending on the context.