under a minute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "under a minute" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something takes less than one minute to complete or occurs within that time frame. Example: "You can boil an egg under a minute if you use a pressure cooker."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Under a minute in LA's man advantage.

The Guardian - Sport

But here are some gems, each under a minute long.

The Guardian - Music

This is a rapid process – typically taking under a minute.

The Guardian

They amounted to just under a minute of music.

The New York Times

A Garnett layup gave Boston an 89-86 lead with just under a minute to play.

The New York Times - Sports

0 49 Things have really deteriorated in under a minute, haven't they?

The New York Times

In fact, Kentucky-born Hoffa can solve a Rubik's cube in under a minute.

The New York Times

In under a minute, it was as flat as — you guessed it — a pancake.

The New York Times

Anything can be staged, chopped, glossed and transmitted in under a minute.

Independent

Mr. Raja smiles big, serving all three what they need in under a minute.

The New York Times

It is clearly presented, so you can find exactly what you need in under a minute.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing processes or events, use "under a minute" to convey efficiency or speed. For example, "The application process takes "under a minute", making it user-friendly."

Common error

Avoid using "under a minute" when greater precision is needed. If the time is closer to seconds, specify the exact number of seconds instead of generalizing with "under a minute".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under a minute" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the duration of an action. It specifies that the action is completed in a very short period of time, shorter than one minute. According to Ludwig, this phrase correctly conveys the intended meaning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "under a minute" is a correct and commonly used phrase to indicate that something takes less than one minute. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves as an adverbial phrase, emphasizing speed and efficiency across various contexts such as news, science and business. While versatile, it's important to use it when precision is not paramount; otherwise, specifying the exact number of seconds might be more appropriate. Alternatives like "less than a minute" or "within a minute" can be used for subtle variations in meaning. The phrase is widely accepted and understood, making it a reliable choice for conveying quick durations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in less than a minute

Replaces "under" with "in less than" for a slightly more explicit meaning.

within a minute

Uses "within" to specify the time frame, implying completion inside that limit.

in under sixty seconds

Replaces "minute" with "sixty seconds" offering greater precision.

quicker than a minute

Emphasizes the speed by directly comparing it to a minute.

before a minute elapses

This is a more formal and literary way to express that something happens quickly.

in a flash

Uses a more figurative expression to mean very quickly.

almost instantly

Emphasizes the near-instantaneous nature of the action or event.

momentarily

Indicates something happens very briefly or in a moment.

in no time

This is an informal way of saying that something happens very quickly.

before you know it

Implies that something happens so fast that it's almost imperceptible.

FAQs

How can I use "under a minute" in a sentence?

Use "under a minute" to describe actions or processes completed very quickly. For example, "The software installs in "under a minute"" or "He solved the puzzle in "under a minute"".

What is a more formal alternative to "under a minute"?

A more formal alternative is "less than a minute". For instance, instead of "The test takes under a minute", you could say "The test takes less than a minute".

Is it correct to say "in under a minute"?

While "under a minute" is commonly used, "in less than a minute" is generally considered more grammatically precise. Both are understandable, but the latter is often preferred in formal writing.

What's the difference between "under a minute" and "within a minute"?

"Under a minute" and "within a minute" are often interchangeable, but "within a minute" might suggest a process is completed at some point before the minute ends, while "under a minute" emphasizes the speed of the process.