scant growth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scant growth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where growth is minimal or insufficient, often in contexts like economics, biology, or personal development. Example: "The company's profits showed scant growth this quarter, raising concerns among investors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Debt-ridden rich countries such as America have seen scant growth since the financial crisis.

The Economist

The figures suggest that Japan is headed for another year of scant growth and will continue to provide little support for the global economy unless the government and the central bank do more to spur a recovery.

The New York Times

Among the provisions they oppose are changes to the vaunted peer-review process at NSF, one of the agencies covered in COMPETES, and scant growth in its budget.

Science Magazine

During this time there has been a rapid increase in the number of Ph.D.s coming through universities, combined with scant growth in permanent academic posts.

Science Magazine

The strengthening numbers show that harsh snowstorms and frigid cold in January and February were largely to blame for the economy's scant growth at the start of the year.

Huffington Post

The excised material was split into sections and submitted for culture; all demonstrated a scant growth of Haemophilus parainfluenzae.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Many residents are under financial stress because of scant income growth, up 2percentt on average since 2000.

The New York Times

Indeed, the increasingly anemic job market comes on the heels of six years of economic expansion that delivered robust corporate profits but scant job growth.

The New York Times

Scant job growth will mean lower wages, meaning slower consumer spending, meaning less demand for new bars and clubs and stores and luxury apartments.

The New York Times - Magazine

C1 New Economy Is Surviving Companies became more efficient despite scant economic growth in the second quarter of 2001, the government said, providing more evidence that the economy has emerged from a 20-year productivity slump.

The New York Times

A deterioration in the global economic outlook this year is leading to scant overall growth in enterprise IT spending, according to Gartner.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing economic conditions or scientific observations, use "scant growth" to convey a lack of substantial increase or development. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is experiencing limited growth, providing clarity for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "scant growth" when you mean no growth at all. "Scant" implies a small, insufficient amount, not a complete absence. For a complete lack of growth, use phrases like "no growth" or "zero growth."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scant growth" functions as a descriptive term, typically modifying a noun to indicate that its increase or development is minimal or insufficient. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it describes a situation where growth is notably lacking.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

43%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scant growth" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, typically employed to describe a situation of minimal or insufficient growth. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's an effective way to express concern or highlight deficiencies in various contexts, from economics to science. While "scant growth" isn't the most frequently used expression, it provides a nuanced way to convey a lack of substantial increase or development. The phrase commonly appears in "News & Media" and scientific contexts, marking it as appropriate for both neutral and formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited growth

Replaces "scant" with "limited", indicating a restricted amount of growth.

meager growth

Uses "meager" instead of "scant", suggesting a small and insufficient amount of growth.

minimal growth

Emphasizes the extremely small nature of the growth.

negligible growth

Highlights that the growth is so small it can almost be ignored.

slow growth

Focuses on the pace of growth, indicating it is happening at a reduced speed.

slight growth

Indicates a small degree of growth.

poor growth

Implies that the growth rate is inadequate or unsatisfactory.

weak growth

Suggests the growth lacks strength and is not robust.

anaemic growth

Draws an analogy to a medical condition, suggesting the growth is weak and unhealthy.

insufficient growth

Directly states that the amount of growth is not enough.

FAQs

What does "scant growth" mean?

"Scant growth" refers to a situation where there is very little or insufficient growth. It suggests that something is not developing or increasing as much as expected or desired.

What are some synonyms for "scant growth"?

Alternatives to "scant growth" include "limited growth", "meager growth", or "minimal growth", all of which convey a similar meaning of very little increase.

How can I use "scant growth" in a sentence?

You might say, "The company experienced scant growth this year due to the economic downturn", or "The experiment showed scant growth of the bacterial culture after 24 hours."

Is it better to say "scant growth" or "little growth"?

Both "scant growth" and "little growth" are correct, but "scant growth" may sound more formal and is often used in more serious or academic contexts. "Little growth" is a more common and general phrase.