very minimal

USAGE SUMMARY

"very minimal" is a valid and commonly used phrase in English.
You can use it whenever something has very little of something, such as when you want to describe an amount. For example: "The company's budget for office supplies was very minimal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Very minimal.

The New York Times

L.K.: Very minimal.

The New York Times

"The pain was very minimal.

The New York Times - Sports

"Our punishment is very minimal.

The New York Times

It was all very minimal".

The New York Times - Magazine

"It's very minimal," Mr. Schultz said.

The New York Times - Arts

"White and black, very minimal," Adrià said.

The New York Times - Magazine

Practice time will be very minimal".

The New York Times - Sports

"Very minimal, obviously," Hartnett says drily.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Like [Oscar] Niemeyer, expressionistic but very minimal.

The New York Times - Style

Consider whales, which have very minimal hair.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "very minimal", consider the context to ensure it accurately reflects the degree of scarcity or insignificance you intend to convey. It's effective when emphasizing a small quantity or impact.

Common error

While "very minimal" is widely understood, overuse in formal writing can make your language sound less precise. Opt for more specific alternatives like "negligible" or "insignificant" /s/insignificant depending on the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very minimal" functions as an adjective modifier, intensifying the adjective "minimal". It serves to emphasize that something exists only in a small amount or degree. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is a common way to express the near absence of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

12%

Wiki

12%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very minimal" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase that effectively conveys the idea of something existing in a small amount or degree. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as an adjective modifier, intensifying "minimal". It is predominantly found in News & Media sources, but also appears in academic and business contexts. While versatile, consider stronger synonyms in formal writing for enhanced precision. Ludwig AI validates the widespread usage and acceptability of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely limited

Emphasizes the severe restriction or scarcity of something.

barely perceptible

Highlights that something is almost impossible to notice or detect.

insignificant

Focuses on the lack of importance or consequence of something.

negligible

Stresses that something is so small it can be disregarded.

scarcely any

Indicates a very small amount of something, close to none.

hardly noticeable

Points out the difficulty in observing or detecting something.

virtually nonexistent

Suggests something is so minimal it's as good as not being there.

minimally invasive

Describes something done with the least possible intrusion or disruption.

quite modest

Indicates a restrained or humble level of something.

rather slight

Emphasizes that something is gentle, delicate, or not significant.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "very minimal" in a sentence?

Use "very minimal" to describe something that exists in a small amount, degree, or extent. For example, "The risk of side effects is "very minimal"" or "The design was "very minimal", focusing on functionality".

What are some alternatives to "very minimal"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "negligible", "insignificant", "extremely limited", or "scarcely any". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "very minimal"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Very" is an adverb that modifies the adjective "minimal", indicating a high degree of being minimal. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage.

When should I avoid using "very minimal"?

While acceptable, "very minimal" might sound less formal or precise in certain contexts. In formal writing, consider stronger synonyms like "negligible" or "insignificant" to enhance the sophistication of your language.