| Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. |
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| maximize, minimize (vv.) |
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| Some insist that maximum and minimum are both absolute adjectives and that therefore the verbs based on them are absolutes too and should not be qualified with adverbs. If these are conceptually absolute, there is only one maximum, only one minimum; hence to maximize or minimize (which see) is to increase or reduce something to precisely that amount or number. But in fact both verbs also mean “to tend in the specified direction, not necessarily to reach the specified goal.” “To make the most (or least) of” is also a Standard use, as in We decided to maximize as best we could our chances of winning; We tried as much as possible to minimize our chances for failure. Compare OPTIMIZE. See SPELLING (1). | 1 |
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| | | The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Copyright © 1993 Columbia University Press. |
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