Minute vs. Minute – What’s the Difference?

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Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

Minute means a unit of time, equivalent to 60 seconds, and the other minute means something so small or insignificant. They might be spelled identically, but they’re worlds apart in meaning. Confused? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. 

This sort of English trickery is known as a heteronym. Heteronyms are words that have a single spelling, multiple meanings, and even different pronunciations.

These words are clear evidence that English isn’t always straightforward. But fret not! I’m here to simplify things. I’ll clear the air on the meaning of minute vs. minute with examples and touch on why understanding heteronyms is key for anyone looking to master this complicated language of ours.

Minute vs. Minute Whats the Difference

The word minute (MIN ut) is often used to simply mean a short period of time or a particular, exact moment in time. Minute (my NOOT) is an adjective that means very small, tiny, infinitesimal, insignificant.

Minoot Meaning And Spelling

Often people confuse the spelling of minute (my noot) with minoot. The proper way to spell minoot is “minute”.

More On Minute (MIN ut) and Minute (my NOOT)

Minute (MIN ut) . The word minute is a noun that means 60 seconds or one-sixtieth of an hour. The plural, minutes, may refer to the written record of a meeting. The word minute is derived from the medieval Latin word minuta, which means a minute of time.

Minute (my NOOT). The word minute is derived from the Latin word minutus, which means small. Related words are minuter, minutest, and minutely.

These word pairs are often misused words. Heteronyms exist because of our ever-changing English language, and these words with the same spelling and different pronunciation and meaning are a challenge for those who wish to learn to speak English. It can be difficult to learn how to spell different words that look the same but are not pronounced the same, and how to use them in sentences because they are easily confused.

The way the pronunciations and definitions differ can be confusing even to native English speakers when attempting to learn vocabulary correctly. Phonological spelling and spelling rules do not always work, and most people avoid misspellings and misuse by studying vocabulary words from spelling lists, enhancing their literacy skills through spelling practice, and learning words in English by studying a dictionary of the English language.

English words are also spelled according to their etymologies rather than their sound. For instance, the word tear meaning a liquid drop that falls from an eye is derived from the Old English word tear, meaning a drop or nectar; tear meaning to pull apart comes from the Old English word tearan, which means to lacerate.

Heteronyms are confusing words and are commonly misspelled words because of the confusion that arises from words that are pronounced differently but are spelled the same and come from a different etymology. They are often used in puns and riddles.

When reading, it is sometimes difficult to know which word is being used in a sentence and how to pronounce the word phonetically. A spell checker will rarely find this type of mistake in English vocabulary, so do not rely on spell check for these commonly confused words but instead, learn to spell. However, tools like Grammarly can help.

Even a participant in a spelling bee like the National Spelling Bee will ask for an example of a heteronym in a sentence so that she understands which word she is to spell by using context clues.

Do not confuse heteronyms with homophones, which are two or more words that are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings like sow and sew; do not confuse them with homonyms, which are words that have the same spelling and pronunciation but different meanings like spring as in spring forth and spring as in the season of the year. Heteronyms are a type of homograph, which is a word that is spelled the same as another word but has a different meaning.

What Does Minute Details Mean?

Very small, diminutive, or of minor importance. Concerned with even the smallest of details.

What Does Minute Changes Mean?

Very small, tiny, or insignificant changes.

Examples – How To Use Minute In A Sentence

Minute (MIN ut) Examples

I want you to think about that and let it sink in for a minute. (The Kitsap Sun)

An Idaho man with a habit of breaking Guinness World Records added another title to his name when he ate 107 blueberries in one minute. (UPI)

Minute (my NOOT) Examples

He is credited with observing that the toxin was produced under anaerobic conditions and that only a minute amount is needed to produce the paralyzing effects. (Alachua County Today)

‘‘What we’re asking for is a minute amount of money compared to what they’ve handed over to Green School.’’ (Taranaki Daily News)