only the smallest amount of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only the smallest amount of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a minimal quantity or degree of something. Example: "The recipe calls for only the smallest amount of salt to enhance the flavor without overpowering the dish."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The two developed their first four flavors -- cranberry, grapefruit, orange and pineapple -- in Bakal's lab, using a purist's approach: just juice, carbonated water and only the smallest amount of natural flavorings and "filler" juices, like white grape juice.

The New York Times

The goal of our approach is to construct a minimalistic module, which occupies only the smallest amount of memory in RAM.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

All online backups are secure, encrypted and most importantly are unobtrusive; performing incremental backups, so only the smallest amount of content that has been changed or modified within your files will be updated.

TechCrunch

For now, all of these are routing back to humans with only the smallest amount of bot-ification (or using automated responses often based around some loose natural language-based machine learning) thrown in.

TechCrunch

The idea behind this approach is to run a reduced-order KF rather than a full-order one so as to reduce the computational load, as well as the communication overheads by transmitting only the smallest amount of information needed.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

As Professor Tamplin describes, it's a seriously contagious virus so only the smallest amount of contamination is needed to cause an outbreak.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

I have no institution behind me and I am limited only by the small amount of land that I have and the little money I have for research.

The Guardian

The correlation was significant (p<0.001), but the regression accounted for only a small amount of the variance (r2 = 0.195) and the slope was considerably less than unity (0.18).

Plosone

The electrolyzer system is powered only by the CPVT collectors, only a small amount of the solar electrical energy is available to the user.

Applied Energy

Due to the small sample size and the structure of the arachnoidea, only a small amount of RNA and protein was isolated.

British Journal of Cancer

Without the transferrin-binding arm, only a small amount of the BACE1 antibody got into the brain when the researchers injected it intravenously in mice.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "only the smallest amount of" to emphasize the minimal nature of something, especially when precision or reduction is important. For example, in scientific contexts, this phrase can highlight the limited quantity of a substance needed for an experiment.

Common error

Avoid using "only the smallest amount of" excessively, as it can make your writing sound repetitive or overly dramatic. Instead, vary your language by using synonyms such as "minimal quantity", "trace amount", or "mere fraction" to maintain a natural and engaging tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only the smallest amount of" functions as a modifier emphasizing the minuteness or insignificance of a quantity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

38%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "only the smallest amount of" is a grammatically correct phrase used to emphasize the minimal nature of a quantity. As per Ludwig AI, its usability is confirmed, and its primary function is to highlight that something is present in the least quantity possible. While versatile, this phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts. When writing, consider alternatives like "just a trace of" or "minimal quantity" to avoid repetition. The expert rating confirms its reliability and correctness, and this phrase is best used when precision and minimal quantities are relevant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just a trace of

Emphasizes the extremely small and barely perceptible quantity.

a mere fraction of

Highlights that the quantity is significantly less than a whole or expected amount.

a minimal quantity of

Stresses the smallness of the quantity in a more formal way.

a modicum of

Implies that the quantity is barely sufficient or adequate.

a trickle of

Suggests a slow and small flow or supply of something.

a scintilla of

Indicates an almost imperceptible amount or degree of something.

the faintest hint of

Highlights the subtle or nearly undetectable presence of something.

a soupçon of

Borrowed from French, suggests a very small amount, often in culinary contexts.

virtually none

Emphasizes the near absence of something.

a peppercorn rent

Indicates a nominal rent, so small it's practically symbolic.

FAQs

How can I use "only the smallest amount of" in a sentence?

Use "only the smallest amount of" to emphasize the minimal quantity or degree of something required or present. For example: "The recipe requires "only the smallest amount of" salt."

What are some alternatives to "only the smallest amount of"?

Alternatives include "just a trace of", "a mere fraction of", or "a minimal quantity of", depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "only the smallest amount of" or "just a little bit of"?

"Only the smallest amount of" tends to be more formal compared to "just a little bit of", which is more casual. Choose the phrase that best suits the tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "only the smallest amount of" and "the least amount of"?

"Only the smallest amount of" emphasizes the minimal quantity, while "the least amount of" implies a comparison, suggesting that it is the minimum possible amount compared to other options. For example, "Use "only the smallest amount of" water." versus "Use the least amount of water possible."