under an minute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "under an minute" is not correct in English.
The correct expression is "under a minute." You can use it when referring to a duration of time that is less than one minute. Example: "The video is under a minute long, making it perfect for a quick overview."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In under an minute.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In this job, speed matters, and Mr. Plum averages 25 stops an hour, completing some deliveries in under a minute.

The New York Times

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

The Guardian

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

The Guardian - Music

They amounted to just under a minute of music.

The New York Times

Under a minute in LA's man advantage.

The Guardian - Sport

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

The New York Times - Sports

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

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

The New York Times

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

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "a" instead of "an" before "minute" when using the preposition "under" to indicate a duration less than one minute. For example, use "under a minute" instead of "under an minute".

Common error

Avoid using the article "an" before words that start with a consonant sound. "Minute" begins with a consonant sound, so it should be preceded by the article "a", not "an". Therefore, the correct phrase is "under a minute".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under an minute" functions as a prepositional phrase attempting to express a duration of time. However, due to the incorrect use of the article, it does not conform to standard English grammar, as Ludwig AI points out.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "under an minute" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "under a minute". As Ludwig AI states, the error lies in using the article "an" before a word that begins with a consonant sound. Although "under an minute" appears in some sources, it should be avoided in favor of grammatically correct alternatives like "less than a minute" or "within a minute". Always ensure proper article usage for clarity and correctness in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than a minute

Replaces the preposition "under" with "less than" for grammatical correctness.

within a minute

Indicates something happens inside a one-minute timeframe.

in under 60 seconds

Specifies the duration in seconds using the preposition "in" combined with "under".

in less than 60 seconds

Specifies the duration in seconds using the preposition "in" combined with "less than".

below one minute

Uses "below" to indicate a duration shorter than one minute.

under one minute

Uses "one" to replace "a" for similar meaning.

in a fraction of a minute

Emphasizes the brevity of the time period.

in short time

Indicates a brief period, though not necessarily quantified as a minute.

momentarily

Implies something happens very quickly, almost instantly.

briefly

Refers to the duration of a period which is of short time.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say something takes less than 60 seconds?

The correct way is to say it takes "under a minute", "less than a minute", or "fewer than 60 seconds".

Is "under an hour" grammatically correct?

Yes, "under an hour" is grammatically correct because "hour" starts with a vowel sound. However, "under an minute" is incorrect; it should be "under a minute".

What are some alternatives to "under a minute"?

Alternatives include "less than a minute", "within a minute", or "in under 60 seconds".

What is the difference between "under a minute" and "over a minute"?

"Under a minute" means less than one minute, while "over a minute" means more than one minute. They are antonyms referring to duration.