What is minus? Pronunciation and usage in English

minus means . Learn how to pronounce and use minus through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of minus

minuspreposition

/ˈmʌɪnəs/
Definition & pronunciation of minus

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "minus" in English. It's a tricky one because it doesn't follow typical English pronunciation rules!

Here's the most common and accepted pronunciation:

mi-NOOS

Let's break it down further:

  • mi: Pronounced like the word "me" (as in "I am me").
  • NOOS: This is the tricky part. It's a nasal vowel. You say the "o" sound as if you were saying "oh," but the sound resonates through your nose. It's similar to the "on" sound in "song" or "gone."

Tips for getting it right:

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation?
  • Give you some more examples of words with similar nasal vowels?

Usage and examples with the word minus in English

Let's break down how to use the word "minus" in English. It's a bit trickier than many other words because it's relatively uncommon in everyday speech. Here's a detailed explanation:

1. Basic Meaning: Subtracting

  • Core Function: "Minus" primarily means subtracting or taking away. It's the same as using the minus sign (-) in math.

    • Example: "The cost was $100 minus $20 for shipping = $80."
    • Example: "There were 20 people at the party, minus 3 who left early = 17 people."

2. Formal Usage (More Common in Official Documents & Technical Contexts)

  • Formal Phrase: "Minus" is often used as part of the formal phrase "minus" followed by a number or quantity. It’s always followed by a space. This is the most common way you'll encounter it outside of very informal contexts.

    • Example: “The temperature was 25 degrees Celsius, minus 5 degrees Celsius due to the wind chill.” (Meaning: 25 - 5 = 20)
    • Example: “The company reported a profit of $1 million, minus $100,000 in legal fees.” (Meaning: $1,000,000 - $100,000 = $900,000)
    • Example: “The total area is 100 acres, minus 20 acres of forested land.” (Meaning: 100 - 20 = 80)

3. Less Common/Figurative Usage (Use with Caution – Can Sound Stilted)

  • Occasionally in Literature or Poetry: You might occasionally find "minus" used in writing for a specific stylistic effect, lending a slightly archaic or formal tone. However, this is rare and should be used deliberately.

  • Figurative (Emotional/Abstract): You could use it metaphorically to represent a lack or deficiency, but this is quite formal and a bit unusual.

    • Example: "His heart was minus hope." (Meaning: He lacked hope.) – This is a dramatic, stylized way of saying it.

4. Important Points & Common Mistakes

  • Always use a space: “Minus 5” is correct; “minus5” is incorrect.
  • Don’t use “minus” on its own: Avoid phrases like "He was minus 5 points." Instead, say "He lost 5 points." or "His score was 5 points lower."
  • Context is key: Pay close attention to the surrounding words. It should be clear you are indicating subtraction.

Here's a quick summary table:

Usage Example Meaning
Basic Subtraction "The score was 10 minus 2." Subtract 2 from 10
Formal Phrase "The temperature was 25 degrees minus 5." 25 - 5 = 20
Rare (Stylistic) "Her life felt minus meaning." She lacked meaning

Resources for further learning:

Do you want me to:

  • Give you more examples?
  • Help you practice using “minus” in a sentence?
  • Explain a specific use case you have in mind (e.g., scientific notation)?

Synonyms for the word minus

Idioms of the word minus

plus or minus
used when the number mentioned may actually be more or less by a particular amount
  • The margin of error was plus or minus three percentage points.

Practice with vocabulary minus

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The project's net profit was $50,000, ______ the operational costs of $15,000.
  2. The current temperature is five degrees Celsius, which is significantly ______ what it was yesterday at this time.
  3. All departments, ______ marketing, need to submit their quarterly reports by Friday.
  4. The revised proposal includes an additional feature, ______ enhanced data encryption.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. The budget for the new initiative is $10 million, ______ a contingency fund of $1 million. a) minus b) plus c) excluding d) besides

  2. The weather forecast predicts temperatures will drop to five degrees ______ zero tonight. a) below b) minus c) beneath d) under

  3. Our team achieved an impressive score of 95 points, ______ a 5-point penalty for a minor technical infraction. a) less b) minus c) plus d) after

  4. The new policy applies to everyone ______ those holding senior management positions. a) besides b) except c) lacking d) without

  5. The final report was criticized for being ______ crucial data regarding market trends. a) absent b) deficient in c) minus d) below

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. After a 10% reduction, the total cost for the upgraded software came to $900. Rewrite the sentence using "minus".

  2. The financial report indicated that the company operated at a loss for the second consecutive quarter. Rewrite the sentence using a form of "minus".

  3. The committee found the candidate's presentation deficient in practical examples. Rewrite the sentence without using "minus" or its synonyms, but a suitable replacement.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. minus
  2. minus
  3. except / excluding
  4. plus / including

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. a) minus, c) excluding
  2. a) below, b) minus
  3. a) less, b) minus
  4. b) except
  5. a) absent, b) deficient in

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The total cost for the upgraded software came to $900, minus a 10% reduction from the original price.
  2. The financial report indicated that the company operated in the minus for the second consecutive quarter.
  3. The committee found the candidate's presentation lacking practical examples.

Comment ()