the least quantity

USAGE SUMMARY

"the least quantity" is correct and is used in written English.
You could use it to express the idea of the smallest or lowest amount of something, or to compare two different quantities. For example: "We need to use the least quantity of water possible to conserve resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It is found that a five-impulse plan requires the least quantity of propellant, and a propellant-optimal minimum rendezvous duration exists for this long-duration, large non-coplanar rendezvous problem.

Advances in Space Research

The vermiculture as means of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that have negative impacts on the environment, although waste sector produces the least quantity of greenhouse gases (Roghaye 2012).

International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture

Lars R. Jorgenson who had conceived this concept had proved that the most economic design of the dam was obtained with an optimum opening angle of 133.6°, with the least quantity of concrete.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Coincidentally, it also ensured that each piece would be made from the least possible quantity of metal, giving it a very contemporary whiff of eco-responsibility.

The New York Times - Style

It could be that maximum YFP is the least noisy quantity and thus most suited for calculating mutual information.

eLife

Second, we placed the prior information of the sensitivity on the least possible quantity, i.e., diffuse prior or less risky prior information, such as two-step hierarchical prior structure, to reduce the influence of subjective opinion as much as possible on the results.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

On a nutrition label, ingredients are listed in order of product composition, from greatest to least quantity.

Huffington Post

"These programs have netted Manpads in the past, in at least quantities in the low hundreds," he said.

The New York Times

Water vapour concentration is one of the most important, yet one of the least known quantities of the mesosphere.

Advances in Space Research

The Mets are feeling good about themselves now, thanks in part to the heroics of Bell, who entered this season as the least-known quantity in the regular lineup.

The New York Times - Sports

Total flavonoid content of the seed and leaf extracts was recorded in least quantities in quercetin equivalents (QE) and in comparison to the total phenolics (Table 1).

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing different options, use "the least quantity" to clearly specify the option with the smallest amount. For example, "Choose the product that requires "the least quantity" of energy to operate".

Common error

While both phrases refer to a minimal value, "quantity" is better suited for countable or measurable items, whereas "amount" is often used for uncountable substances. Use "the least quantity" for discrete items and "the least amount" for continuous substances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the least quantity" functions as a determiner phrase specifying the minimum amount of something. It's typically used to emphasize efficiency or minimization. As Ludwig AI suggests, it denotes the smallest or lowest amount.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the least quantity" is used to express the smallest or lowest amount of something, suitable for various contexts like science, news, and general knowledge as demonstrated by Ludwig. While grammatically correct, it appears less frequently. To enhance clarity, use "quantity" for countable items and be mindful of context to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases include "the minimum amount" and "the smallest quantity", offering subtle variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the minimum amount

Replaces "quantity" with "amount", emphasizing a specific measurement or extent.

the smallest quantity

Substitutes "least" with "smallest", providing a slight variation in phrasing while maintaining the same meaning.

the lowest amount

Similar to "minimum amount", but emphasizes the ranking or position of the amount.

the slightest amount

Highlights a minimal or negligible quantity.

the merest quantity

Emphasizes the insignificance or near non-existence of the quantity.

the most minimal quantity

Combines "most" and "minimal" for added emphasis on the extremely small nature of the quantity.

the negligible amount

Focuses on the lack of importance or impact of the quantity.

the most limited quantity

Highlights that the quantity is restricted or constrained.

the infinitesimal quantity

Highlights a value approaching zero.

the absolute minimum

Indicates the base level which is tolerable or acceptable.

FAQs

How can I use "the least quantity" in a sentence?

Use "the least quantity" to indicate the smallest amount of something required or available. For example, "The experiment requires "the least quantity" of reagent to produce accurate results".

What is a similar phrase to "the least quantity"?

You can use alternatives like "the minimum amount", "the smallest quantity", or "the lowest amount" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "less quantity" instead of "the least quantity"?

While "less quantity" might be understood in informal contexts, "the least quantity" is grammatically more precise and suitable for formal writing. "Less" is typically used with uncountable nouns, while "fewest" is the correct term for countable nouns.

What's the difference between "the least quantity" and "the least amount"?

"The least quantity" is often used when referring to discrete, measurable items, while "the least amount" is more appropriate for substances or abstract concepts that are not easily counted. However, the two terms can sometimes be used interchangeably.