smallest expenditure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smallest expenditure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the least amount of money spent on a particular item or service. Example: "In order to maximize our budget, we need to identify the smallest expenditure that meets our needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A contemporary chronicler notes that Roger would personally go through his exchequer accounts, recording even the smallest expenditure, and that he was as scrupulous in the payment of debts as in their collection.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Effendi Gazali, a political analyst at the University of Indonesia, said that most of the illegal money flowing into political party coffers was generated by members of the Budget Commission of the House of Representatives, who have expansive powers to oversee even the smallest expenditures.

The New York Times

According to Leonard Goldenson, president of ABC during this era, Raibourn "constantly nitpicked and needled [Allen DuMont] over the smallest expenditures.

Wikipedia

The small expenditure is expected to have a big effect.

The New York Times

"We're looking at a much smaller expenditure than what we had originally planned," Ms. Harris said.

The New York Times

"I really do think this is a case where the investment has been made, and a relatively small expenditure will open the possibility for tremendous growth in New Mexico".

The New York Times

In the case of a loss, depending on how large the margin and how his rivals fare, Mr. Romney may have to fall back on something of a survival strategy, scooping up a few states he can capture with relatively small expenditure and hoping that Mr. McCain does not sweep everywhere else and lock up the nomination.

The New York Times

Acquiring skilled professionals and having enough of them to staff each site is not a small expenditure, but it's a requirement to power this complex experience.

TechCrunch

Compared to education expenditures (24%%) and social security and healthcare expenditures (19.5 %), it is a relatively small expenditure category (see Table 5).

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Due to their small shares in the result, no or only a small expenditure is needed to identify improvement potentials of these alternatives.

Journal of Cleaner Production

It was lit up like Lady Liberty, no small expenditure of electricity inasmuch as whole sections of Pyongyang are blacked out.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for the "smallest expenditure", prioritize needs over wants to ensure budget adherence and efficient resource allocation.

Common error

Failing to account for potential hidden costs associated with seemingly "smallest expenditure" decisions can lead to budget overruns. Always factor in all associated expenses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smallest expenditure" primarily functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies the minimum amount of money spent. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "smallest expenditure" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable phrase used to denote the minimum amount of money spent. While Ludwig suggests its usage is correct, its frequency is uncommon. It's often employed in contexts related to news, science, and budgeting. When aiming for cost efficiency, understanding and identifying the "smallest expenditure" can be a key factor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimal spending

Replaces "expenditure" with "spending", emphasizing the act of spending rather than the amount.

least cost

Uses "cost" instead of "expenditure", focusing on the financial aspect.

minimum outlay

Replaces "expenditure" with "outlay", suggesting an initial investment or expense.

tiniest expense

Substitutes "smallest" with "tiniest" and "expenditure" with "expense", both emphasizing the extremely small scale.

negligible disbursement

Uses "negligible" to highlight the insignificance of the expenditure and replaces it with "disbursement".

insignificant spending

Highlights the unimportance of the amount spent.

most economical spending

Focuses on the efficiency and economy of the spending.

tightest budget

Shifts the focus to the constraints of a budget, implying minimal expenditure.

frugal spending

Emphasizes the careful and thrifty nature of the spending.

economical expenditure

Focuses on the cost-effectiveness of the spending.

FAQs

How can I use "smallest expenditure" in a sentence?

You might say, "The company focused on identifying the "smallest expenditure" necessary to maintain operational efficiency".

What is an alternative to saying "smallest expenditure"?

Alternatives include "minimal spending", "least cost", or "minimum outlay", depending on the context.

What's the difference between "smallest expenditure" and "economical expenditure"?

"Smallest expenditure" refers to the absolute lowest cost, while "economical expenditure" implies getting the most value for the money spent, even if it's not the absolute lowest cost.

Is it always best to aim for the "smallest expenditure"?

Not always. While minimizing costs is often desirable, sometimes a slightly higher "marginal expenditure" can result in significantly better quality or long-term savings.