Learn English – Minimal or Minimum – Which word should I use here

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The sentence is,
What are the “minimal/minimum" needs of your life?

Which word would be grammatically right and overall appropriate?

Best Answer

This is a common confusion.

Minimum refers to "the least amount" whereas minimal means "a very little/small amount, often negligible."

Look at this difference:

The minimum contribution for this fund-raising is USD 10.
Jack contributed minimal amount. I certainly expected more as he's a businessperson.

Note that the minimal amount is your mind-set as you expected some great contribution. Even if Jack has contributed USD 1000, you had expected at least USD 5000 as he's a big businessperson. On the other hand minimum amount is the least maount (below that is not accepted).

In this sense, both the sentences are okay but to me, what are the minimum needs of your life sounds natural as we are talking about the least needs and not binding someone with a very negligible amount of something.

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