the lowest number

USAGE SUMMARY

"the lowest number" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to describe the smallest numerical value in a range. For example, "The lowest number on the chart was 7."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That would be the lowest number since 1991.

Independent

That was the lowest number since April 2008.

The New York Times

The lowest number is therefore 1,000.

Cornell University

The lowest number of tickets sold?

The New York Times - Sports

The 2007 election produced the lowest number, at 33.33%.

The Guardian

This was the lowest number since the second world war.

The Guardian - Money

Chest skin had the lowest number of K19-positive cells.

Burns

The Conservatives have overseen the lowest number of homes built under any government since the 1920s and the lowest number of genuinely affordable homes for two decades.

The Guardian - Opinion

Princeton has the lowest number of undergraduate veterans in the Ivy League.

Princeton University

Those who had 7 to 13 drinks a week had the lowest number of small ones.

The New York Times - Health

Interestingly, 1918 saw the lowest number, but this was followed by a postwar baby boom.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing data sets, use "the lowest number" to clearly identify the smallest numerical value, providing a clear and concise understanding of the comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "the lowest amount" when you are referring to a specific numerical value. "The lowest number" is appropriate for countable items or numerical data, while "the lowest amount" is generally used for non-countable items such as volume, mass, or intensity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the lowest number" functions as a noun phrase, specifically as a determiner phrase identifying the minimum numerical value. It is widely accepted, as Ludwig AI confirms, and serves to pinpoint the smallest quantity or value within a given set of numbers.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

25%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the lowest number" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to identify the minimum numerical value within a given context. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for use in diverse settings ranging from formal academic papers to news reports. Its frequent appearance in authoritative sources such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and BBC underscores its reliability. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that it accurately represents a countable value, distinguishing it from "the lowest amount", which applies to non-countable items. Alternative phrases like "the smallest quantity" or "the fewest" may be used depending on the specific nuance intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the smallest quantity

Focuses on the quantity being minimal rather than explicitly a number.

the least amount

Emphasizes the minimized amount, differing slightly in focus from the numerical value itself.

the minimum value

Highlights the concept of a minimum mathematical value.

the fewest

Shorter alternative, implying the smallest quantity.

the nadir

A more formal term indicating the lowest point or value.

the floor

Emphasizes the base level or minimum acceptable value.

the all-time low

Indicates a record minimum, often used in contexts of measurements or statistics over time.

the rock bottom

A colloquial term implying the absolute lowest possible point or number.

the negligible figure

Highlights that the number is so low it's practically insignificant.

the bottom line

Focuses on the final minimal outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "the lowest number" in a sentence?

You can use "the lowest number" to indicate the smallest value within a data set, for example: "The chart shows that 5 is "the lowest number" of reported cases this month."

What phrases are similar to "the lowest number"?

Similar phrases include "the smallest quantity", "the minimum value", or simply "the fewest", depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "the lowest number" or "the smallest number"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "the lowest number" is generally preferred when referring to a specific value in a set of data, whereas "the smallest number" may be used more broadly.

What is the difference between "the lowest number" and "the least number"?

While similar, "the lowest number" is more common and natural-sounding in most contexts. "The least number" is grammatically correct but less frequently used.