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Could somebody please elaborate on the difference(s) between "at least" and "at the least"? Could the wrong usage potentially lead to misunderstanding or would it just be improper?

HankyPanky
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2 Answers2

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I can find no grammatical ruling for the need to use 'very' with 'least'. I believe it is simply a personal choice and possibly implies emphasis.
For example;
[Exasperated parent to child] "Can you at the very least go and tidy your room" implies to the reader more frustration than simply "Can you at least go and tidy your room".
So I would suggest that you always use 'at least' unless you wish to add emphasis.
HTH

Joe Dark
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  • Thanks for the answer, though I did not have problem with very, but instead the point of the question was on using the before least. However, your answer made me delete very from the question to make sure that nobody else would focus on that. – HankyPanky Oct 25 '14 at 09:07
  • Well now I'm afraid neither your question nor my answer make any sense. 'at the least' is meaningless. – Joe Dark Oct 25 '14 at 09:19
  • With all due respect, there are separate entries for them in different dictionaries with the word very in parenthesis for the second one – HankyPanky Oct 25 '14 at 09:25
  • Yes you are correct, as I've just noticed on OED site, they give the following example; 'stay ten days at the least'. I still claim that 'at least' is sufficient in all cases unless emphasis is required. – Joe Dark Oct 25 '14 at 09:35
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If the focus is on "the least" vs just "least", then the answer is elsewhere. It's a beautifully crafted accepted answer.

See: Superlatives with "the"

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