to a minimum extent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to a minimum extent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is limited or reduced to the least possible degree. Example: "The changes implemented in the project were made to a minimum extent to avoid disrupting the workflow."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The same can be stated-though to a minimum extent – for the inclination angle while channel length (or channel to diameter ratio) effect was clear and consistent.

Annals of Nuclear Energy

EU legislation on Organic production(1) restricts the use of food additives and processing aids, so they are used to a minimum extent and only in the case of essential technological need or particular nutritional purposes.

European Parliament

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The latter should be designed with the aim to keep carry over at a minimum extent.

EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry

Anti-CGRP mAbs predictably may cross the BBB at a minimum extent, thus making unlikely the hypothesis that they act at sites of action within the central nervous system.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

A political system is based on trust that everyone will abide by the rules to at least a minimum extent; without that, stability will be short-lived.

The Guardian

The ice, which is now expanding as the sun dips toward the horizon for the winter, hit a minimum extent of about 1.74 million square miles on Sept. 12, said Walter Meier, a research scientist at the center.

The New York Times - Science

The peneplain is developed in Cretaceous granitoids and Jurassic metasediments of the northern Lhasa block (90°E, 31°N) and originally had a minimum extent of ~ 150 km east west and ~ 75 km north south.

Geomorphology

The DS procedures for the last two fields are presented in a minimum extent and thus, we did not involve them into next analyses.

Health Economics Review

The epidisc should carefully overlap, even if in a minimum extent, all the intact epithelium edge around the perforation (Fig. 2).

Clinical Otolaryngology

Given the exploratory nature of the gPPI analyses, results were thresholded at P <0.001 uncorrected for multiple comparisons with a minimum extent of 5 voxels.

Cerebral Cortex

Group-level analyses were then based on a random-effects model using one-sample t-tests, with a threshold of p < 0.05, corrected, and a minimum extent threshold of 10 contiguous voxels.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, use "to a minimum extent" to emphasize that an action or quantity has been deliberately reduced to its lowest acceptable level, particularly in formal or technical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "to a minimum extent" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "as little as possible" or "minimally" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to a minimum extent" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by specifying the degree to which an action is performed or a state is maintained. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's generally considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to a minimum extent" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to express a deliberate limitation or reduction. It is commonly found in formal and professional writing, particularly in scientific, news, and business contexts. While less common in casual settings, Ludwig AI states it is correct. Alternative phrases include "to the smallest degree" and "as little as possible", offering stylistic variations for different situations. When employing this phrase, precision is key, ensuring it accurately reflects the intention to minimize something to its lowest acceptable level.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to the smallest degree

Replaces "minimum extent" with "smallest degree", keeping the preposition "to".

to the least possible degree

Emphasizes the reduction to the lowest achievable level.

as little as possible

Uses a more common idiom to express minimization.

to the lowest level

Focuses on reducing something to its base or foundational state.

to a negligible degree

Implies that the extent is so small as to be insignificant.

minimally

A concise adverb expressing the same concept.

to a reduced level

Highlights the action of reducing something.

only when necessary

Shifts the focus to necessity rather than degree.

to a slight degree

Indicates a small, but not necessarily minimal, amount.

sparingly

Suggests using something cautiously and in small amounts.

FAQs

How can I use "to a minimum extent" in a sentence?

The phrase "to a minimum extent" is used to describe limiting or reducing something as much as possible. For example, "We tried to modify the existing system "to a minimum extent" to avoid disrupting ongoing processes."

What phrases are similar to "to a minimum extent"?

Alternatives include "to the smallest degree", "as little as possible", or "minimally". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of formality required.

Is "to a minimum extent" formal or informal?

The phrase "to a minimum extent" tends to be more formal. In informal contexts, consider using simpler alternatives like "as little as possible".

Which is correct, "to a minimum extent" or "to a minimal extent"?

Both "to a minimum extent" and "to a minimal extent" are grammatically correct and largely interchangeable. "Minimum" emphasizes the absolute lowest level, while "minimal" focuses on being just sufficient. However, according to Ludwig's results, "to a minimum extent" is used with more frequency.