minimal, minimalist, minimalistic

Question

Hi,I'm really unsure about this one:"I've decided to keep my journal as minimalist as possible"I'm thinking it should be minimalistic...Any help would be welcome...Thanks

Avangi · Accepted Answer

I don't know either. I tend to think of the terms in connection with art. Of course "minimal" as an adjective predates all of that and is still used in the pure sense, as does and is the noun, minimum. "Please keep your paragraphs to a minimum." I guess "minimum" is also used as an adjective, but not exactly in the same way as "minimal." "Sign me up for the minimum donation." "She shows only minimal signs of having contracted the disease."

A minimalist painting is one which has been painted by a minimalist painter, who (I think) subscribes to the principles of minimalism, which could best be described as minimalistic.

Whether or not there's a parallel movement in literature which may be applied to the style of your journal entries, I'm not sure. Perhaps so.

But I don't think that's what you mean. I think you're simply talking about keeping your entries to a minimum, and not about stylistic issues. If so, I'd find another word. "I've decided to keep my journal entries as simple and as brief as possible." Or, "I've decided to keep my journal as simply and succinctly as possible."

I may be way off base. Best wishes, - A.

Edit. Note that "keep" has slightly different meanings in these last two examples.
1."Keep it short." Keep = contain/restrict/control I keep my dog on a leash. I keep my gun loaded.
2. "Keep a record." Keep = (I give up on a synomym) protect/maintain (that sounds the same as the other one) I can't get the action part of it! - the "recording" part. Anyway, they're different.

Anonymous · Answer

Dictionaries that have adopted the word "minimalistic" have done so only recently, the word meaning "minimal" applied specifically to art, music, literature, design, etc. Strictly speaking, however, "minimalistic" is a redundant member of the "minimal" word family, having the same definition.

Anonymous · Answer

In your example here, it should neither be minimalist, nor minimalistic.

I would go with the following: "I've decided to keep my journal as minimal as possible."

minimal, minimalist, minimalistic

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