reduction to a minimum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reduction to a minimum" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to express the idea of minimizing something, such as costs, risks, or waste. Example: "The company implemented new strategies aimed at achieving a reduction to a minimum in operational costs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

We believe that military spending is politically counterproductive to a society's advance, so we demand its reduction to a minimum.

The Guardian - Opinion

For the followers of the participatory model, in this way real improvement in the conditions of many social groups is also possible, through the redistribution of material resources and the reduction to a minimum (or if possible complete elimination) of bureaucratic power, not democratically responsible, both in public and private life.

City, Territory and Architecture

Fixed temperature reduction 2. Biofeedback systems which vary dialysate temperature to deliver either; a. no overall change in the patient's blood temperature (isothermic dialysis) b. lowering of the patient's blood temperature (hypothermic dialysis) 3. Sequential fixed temperature reduction to a minimum of 35°C or the minimum tolerated above 35°C.

BMC Nephrology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Colin Spence, Conservative councillor with responsibility for public protection, said: "I'm doing my utmost to ensure that we keep the impact of these reductions to a minimum, but we have to realise that some things have got to change".

BBC

While a two-year ban is possible, it could be subject to a reduction down to a minimum of one year depending on the degree of fault and no prior record of activity deemed suspicious.

The Guardian - Sport

This paper reports on design improvements that, in response to reaction from researchers and industry, focus on cost reductions, holding to a minimum the number of component variants and pursuing the establishment of workable acceptance criteria for divertor armour joints (the latter reported in [3]).

Fusion Engineering and Design

When the correlation coefficient is less than 1, we make a reduction to the Minimum Color Single-Path (MCSiP) problem, which is NP-hard [18].

Computational Social Networks

We use a reduction to the Minimum Vertex Cover problem to find all minimal sets of up to k edges that eliminate all the squares in the graph.

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

Measures imposed by the troika, including a 22 percent reduction to the minimum monthly wage of 751 euros, or about $930, and the abolition of collective labor contracts, would be revoked, Mr. Tsipras said.

The New York Times

Dose reduction was permitted to a minimum of 15 mg/week due to toxicity or intolerability.

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

As a result, the commission is considering a proposal that would allow judges to remove prison time in excess of the old statutory minimum sentences, but such inmates would still not be eligible for a reduction to the new minimum sentences established by the 2010 law.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for a significant impact, quantify the "minimum" level achieved. For instance, specify "a reduction to a minimum of 5%" to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the achieved minimum. Ensure the data supports the claim; otherwise, use qualifiers like "substantial" or "significant" before stating the "reduction to a minimum".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reduction to a minimum" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It describes the state or result of minimizing something, indicating that efforts have been made to decrease or curtail something to its lowest possible level. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reduction to a minimum" is a versatile phrase that signifies the action or state of minimizing something as much as possible. Ludwig AI attests to its grammatical correctness and usability. The phrase is commonly employed in formal and scientific contexts, and while not as prevalent in informal settings, its meaning is universally understood. It's often used to emphasize efficiency, optimization, or the achievement of a minimized state. Related phrases can provide alternative ways to express this concept, depending on the desired nuance. When writing with this phrase, be precise about the achieved minimum and avoid exaggeration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limit to the absolute minimum

Directly expresses the idea of setting a lower boundary at the absolute minimum value.

pare down to the irreducible minimum

Uses a formal tone and emphasizes that the reduction has reached a point where nothing else can be removed.

minimize to the greatest extent

Focuses on the action of minimizing while emphasizing the degree to which it's done.

lessen to the smallest degree

Highlights the reduction and specifies that it reaches the smallest measurable extent.

decrease as much as possible

Emphasizes the act of decreasing and the effort to make it as great as possible.

bring down to the lowest point

Focuses on the action of lowering something to its absolute lowest level.

curtail to the uttermost

Uses a more formal word "curtail" and emphasizes extremity.

trim down to the bare bones

Suggests removing everything non-essential, leaving only the absolute minimum.

cut down to rock bottom

Emphasizes a severe reduction, suggesting a very low level has been reached.

downsize to the necessaries only

Implies the action of reducing something in size or amount and focuses on essentials.

FAQs

How can I use "reduction to a minimum" in a sentence?

You can use "reduction to a minimum" to describe efforts to minimize something. For example, "The company aimed for a "reduction to a minimum" in waste production."

What's an alternative to saying "reduction to a minimum"?

Alternatives include phrases like "minimize to the greatest extent", "decrease as much as possible", or "limit to the absolute minimum", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "reduce to minimum" or "reduction to a minimum"?

"Reduce to minimum" is a verb phrase that implies taking action to reduce something. "Reduction to a minimum" is a noun phrase that refers to the state of being reduced. The best choice depends on the sentence's structure.

What does "reduction to a minimum" imply about the final result?

It implies that the item in question has been decreased or curtailed as much as possible, reaching the lowest acceptable or achievable level.