required at a minimum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "required at a minimum" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the least amount or level of something that is necessary or expected. Example: "To qualify for the scholarship, applicants are required at a minimum to have a GPA of 3.0."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Informal rule making required at a minimum that agencies publish the proposed rule and allow interested parties to respond (notice and comment).

Encyclopedia Britannica

If the link between them is the individual (which is often the case), then the data need to be sufficiently identifiable to allow for records from different sources to be linked; pseudonymised data are required at a minimum for such linkages.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

He said issuers should be required, at a minimum, to provide documentation of the steps they took to ensure buyers were accredited before selling them securities, as is required in banking and other industries.

Huffington Post

The LFR navigation system required, at a minimum, only a simple AM radio receiver on board the aircraft to accurately navigate the airways under instrument meteorological conditions, and even execute an instrument approach to low minimums.

Wikipedia

From this point of view, we hypothesized that NGF stimulation is separately required at a minimum of two discrete time points for latent and extension processes during the differentiation of PC12 cells.

Plosone

Each sample required, at a minimum, duplicate PCR and an SBA culture.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

That requires, at a minimum, large quantities of cash as seen in this week's bail-out of Hungary (see article).

The Economist

Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat, is preparing legislation to regulate Section 527 groups, requiring, at a minimum, disclosure of contributors and expenditures.

The New York Times

Ms. Quinn said any new proposal would require at a "minimum level" an inpatient facility as well as a 24-hour emergency room.

The New York Times

"The right to life is the most fundamental of all rights," the suit claims, and "due process requires, at a minimum, that citizens be put on notice of what may cause them to be put to death by the state".

The Guardian - Opinion

Creating a permanent, ecological barrier between Lake Michigan and Illinois waterways would require, at a minimum, building a water treatment facility that would eliminate the possibility that any aquatic creature could move between the lake and Mississippi River watersheds.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When setting expectations or requirements, use "required at a minimum" to clearly define the lower boundary of what is acceptable or necessary. This avoids ambiguity and ensures a clear understanding of the minimum standard.

Common error

Avoid using "required at a minimum" when a simple "required" would suffice. The phrase is best suited for situations where you need to emphasize the lowest acceptable threshold, not just any requirement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "required at a minimum" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It indicates a baseline requirement or a lower limit that must be met, as showcased by Ludwig in contexts from science to news and media.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "required at a minimum" is grammatically sound and functions to specify a baseline requirement or a lower limit. Ludwig shows it appears in contexts ranging from scientific research to news reports, often indicating a standard that must be met. While "required at a minimum" is most common in scientific and news contexts, this phrase can be replaced by phrases like "minimally required" or "at the very least required" to alter the emphasis. While "required at a minimum" is considered usable in written English according to Ludwig, remember that precision in its use is key; it's most effective when clarifying the lowest acceptable threshold.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimally required

Reverses the order and uses "minimally" to modify "required".

at the very least required

Adds emphasis to the minimum nature of the requirement.

as a minimum requirement

Rephrases as a noun phrase emphasizing the requirement aspect.

least required

Simplifies the phrase while retaining the core meaning.

minimum necessary

Focuses on the necessity of the minimum.

bare minimum required

Emphasizes the sparseness of the requirement.

at the base level required

Uses "base level" to represent the minimum threshold.

at a lower bound required

Uses mathematical terminology to convey the minimum.

essential requirement

Emphasizes that the requirement is essential, though doesn't explicitly state a minimum.

basic requirement

Replaces minimum with the word "basic" emphasizing the elemental need.

FAQs

How do I use "required at a minimum" in a sentence?

Use "required at a minimum" to specify the least amount or level of something that is necessary. For example, "To pass the course, students are "required at a minimum" to attend 80% of the lectures".

What phrases are similar to "required at a minimum"?

Similar phrases include "minimally required", "at the very least required", or "as a minimum requirement", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it redundant to say "absolutely required at a minimum"?

Yes, adding "absolutely" is often redundant. "Required at a minimum" already implies a baseline necessity. Using "absolutely" may add unnecessary emphasis.

Can I use "required at a minimum" in formal writing?

Yes, "required at a minimum" is suitable for formal writing. However, consider the specific context and whether a more concise alternative like "minimally required" would be more appropriate.