so minimal that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "so minimal that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that is extremely limited or insignificant in some way. Example: "The budget for the project was so minimal that we had to cut several key features to stay within our financial constraints."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

It can seem so Minimal that it provides little to look at.

The New York Times

The differences between cancerous and normal cells are often so minimal that they are extremely hard to tell apart.

The Guardian

Both mentions of the age cutoff were so minimal that some readers missed the supposed exclusion of 15-year-olds.

The New York Times

His stage presence is so minimal that he could quite easily triple his charisma by moving his arms around.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He meets Yanli at a restaurant, and the exchanges between them are initially so minimal that it's tough to tell exactly what's going on.

The New York Times

But these events were so glancing and his level of engagement so minimal that he raised doubts about his commitment to the process of campaigning.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

The part of Nightcrawler was so minimal, however, that the studio felt it was not worthwhile to go through the long and costly makeup process, and the character was cut.

Wikipedia

After that summer I immediately changed my major to physics, took the minimal number of physics courses (so minimal, in fact, that I almost failed to graduate), and spent the rest of my time in the lab.

Huffington Post

I like that something so minimal has so much detail". .

Vice

He is able to establish a sense of humor through details that are so minimal to seem, at times, invisible.

Los Angeles Times

So minimal is the ceremoniousness that, whenever it exists, it tends to take on outsized meaning.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "so minimal that" when you want to emphasize that something is at its lowest possible level and this limitation has a consequence. For example, "The budget was "so minimal that" we couldn't afford new equipment."

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of "so minimal that" can sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like "barely any" or "hardly any" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so minimal that" functions as a degree adverbial emphasizing the extent to which something is reduced or limited. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

25%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "so minimal that" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a low degree leading to a consequence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts. While it is generally neutral in tone, varying your sentence structure can enhance writing. Remember to use "so minimal that" when you want to strongly emphasize the limiting nature of something and its direct impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

so slight that

Replaces "minimal" with "slight", indicating a small degree or amount.

so insignificant that

Replaces "minimal" with "insignificant", emphasizing the unimportance of something.

so negligible that

Replaces "minimal" with "negligible", highlighting that something can be disregarded.

so small that

Uses "small" instead of "minimal", focusing on the size or amount.

so little that

Emphasizes the lack of something using "little" instead of "minimal".

so reduced that

Focuses on the reduction in size or impact, using "reduced" instead of "minimal".

so limited that

Highlights the restriction or constraint, using "limited" instead of "minimal".

to such a small extent that

A more formal way of expressing the same idea, emphasizing the degree.

to such a degree that it is minimal

Inverts the structure slightly, focusing on the extent of something being minimal.

of such low importance that

Emphasizes the lack of importance or significance.

FAQs

How can I use "so minimal that" in a sentence?

Use "so minimal that" to express that something is at a very low level, leading to a specific outcome. For example: "The funding was "so minimal that" the project was cancelled."

What can I say instead of "so minimal that"?

You can use alternatives such as "so slight that", "so insignificant that", or "so negligible that" depending on the context.

Is "so minimal that" formal or informal?

"So minimal that" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, consider more precise alternatives to enhance clarity. The formality depends on your surrounding vocabulary.

What's the difference between "so minimal that" and "so small that"?

While both indicate a low degree, "so minimal that" often refers to something being reduced to its lowest acceptable level, whereas "so small that" emphasizes size or quantity. The best choice depends on what aspect you want to highlight.