To lessen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "To lessen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of reducing or diminishing something, such as a problem, pain, or intensity. Example: "To lessen the impact of the storm, the city implemented emergency measures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To lessen the environmental impact from lighting, heating and cooling, many vertical farms use renewable energy.

TechCrunch

To lessen the mice population.

WikiHow

To lessen the problem, first try exfoliating.

WikiHow

To lessen this effect, add another 100ml of milk.

WikiHow

Derivatives allow them to lessen that risk.

The Economist

Typically, businesses want to lessen government regulation.

The New York Times

The goal is to lessen smoking, right?

The New York Times

Official efforts to lessen anger have increased.

The Guardian

To deprecate means to lessen in value.

Cornell University

Use them wisely to lessen your risk.

Harvard University

"There is a push to lessen suspensions.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to lessen", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being reduced or diminished. For instance, "To lessen the impact of the new policy, we will implement additional support measures."

Common error

Avoid using "to lessen" in very informal or casual writing, as it can sound overly formal. In such cases, simpler alternatives like "to reduce" or "to decrease" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to lessen" functions as an infinitive of purpose, indicating the intended outcome of an action. Ludwig shows it clarifies the reason behind a certain action, aiming to reduce or diminish something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

28%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to lessen" serves as an infinitive of purpose, commonly used to express the intention of reducing or diminishing something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suggests that it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, academic, and general informative writing. While generally neutral in register, it tends to lean towards the formal side, so simpler alternatives might be preferable in very casual communication. The frequency analysis reveals that it appears most often in "News & Media", "Science" and "Wiki" contexts, marking it as a reliable and versatile phrase for expressing intent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In order to diminish

Replaces "to lessen" with a more formal synonym and rephrases the sentence to maintain the purpose-driven structure.

With the aim of reducing

Uses "with the aim of" to introduce the purpose, substituting "lessen" with "reducing".

For the purpose of mitigating

A more formal alternative using "mitigating" instead of "lessen", suitable for academic or professional contexts.

So as to decrease

Uses "so as to" to indicate purpose, replacing "lessen" with "decrease".

Intended to alleviate

Expresses the intended outcome of reducing something negative, using "alleviate" as a substitute for "lessen".

Designed to minimize

Highlights the design or intention behind reducing something, using "minimize" instead of "lessen".

Aimed at curtailing

Focuses on the aim of restricting or reducing, using "curtailing" to replace "lessen".

With a view to abate

A formal expression indicating the intention to reduce or suppress something, using "abate" as a synonym for "lessen".

In an effort to curb

Emphasizes the effort being made to restrain or reduce something, using "curb" to replace "lessen".

To mitigate

A direct and concise alternative, using a single word to convey the meaning of reducing or alleviating.

FAQs

How can I use "to lessen" in a sentence?

Use "to lessen" to indicate the purpose of reducing or diminishing something. For example, "The goal is "to lessen smoking", right?"

What phrases are similar in meaning to "to lessen"?

Alternatives include "to reduce", "to diminish", "to alleviate", or "to mitigate", depending on the context.

Is "to lessen" formal or informal?

"To lessen" is generally considered more formal than simpler alternatives like "to decrease" or "to reduce" but less formal than "to mitigate".

What's the difference between "to lessen" and "to reduce"?

While both phrases mean to make something smaller or less, "to lessen" often implies a gradual or subtle reduction, whereas ""to reduce"" can suggest a more direct or immediate decrease. The nuance depends on the context.