a subtle reduction of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a subtle reduction of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a slight decrease or diminishment in something, often in a nuanced or delicate manner. Example: "The artist achieved a subtle reduction of color in the painting, creating a more harmonious composition."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Characterization and uniqueness of optimizers of Riesz-type functionals were established in [3], our new approach also allows us to weaken (Ψ3) of [3]; thanks to a subtle reduction of the Riesz-type functionals to the Hardy-Littlewood ones (Theorem 2).

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

The parietal cortex has been less intensively imaged and with inconsistent results (reviewed by [16]), although recent studies point to a subtle reduction of parietal volume including that of the superior parietal gyrus [13], [19] and the postcentral gyrus [89].

Plosone

Both papers showed a strong reduction of mIPSC frequency and a subtle reduction of mIPSC amplitude.

eLife

A subtle reduction of Pten in the Pten+/− mice appears sufficient to achieve a prolonged and robust insulin signal.

Diabetologia

In these experiments, suppression of KLF5 led to a subtle reduction of KLF4, suggesting the possibility of crosstalk between the two factors.

Cell Death and Disease

Interestingly, in a recent report [ 50], it was shown that in mice with a subtle reduction of PTEN expression (80% of the normal level), different types of tumors developed with mammary carcinomas occurring at highest penetrance.

Breast Cancer Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

However, we observed only a very subtle reduction of colony size when hat1 was combined with the replication defective mutant mcm2-1 (Additional file 2), while virtually no interaction was detectable between hat1 or hat2 null alleles in combination with ts-alleles in other essential initiation factors examined (e.g. cdc7-1 or cdc6-1; Additional file 2 and data not shown).

BMC Biology

A subtle reduction in the recovery kinetics of SR45/U1-70K complex was observed with staurosporine (Figure 7).

Plosone

However, a subtle reduction in the overall abundance of xyloglucan (non-fucosylated and fucosylated) and xylan epitopes was observed in the 1 M KOH and chlorite extracts of fpgs1- 1 mutant walls (see white dotted blocks in Fig.  4a).

Biotechnology for Biofuels

This spreads the reduction of glycerol yield not only over different target genes, each causing a subtle reduction, but also over different nodes in the cellular network and thus likely minimizes further the risk of negative side-effects.

Biotechnology for Biofuels

Nevertheless it still remains a formal possibility that in key neurons of the fly brain that control LTM, a large reduction in Notch could have a subtle reduction in CBP, and that this subtle reduction is responsible for the LTM phenotype that is observed.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a subtle reduction of", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being reduced and the nature of the subtlety. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a subtle reduction of" when the decrease is actually significant or noticeable. This misrepresentation can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a subtle reduction of" functions as a descriptive noun phrase, modifying another noun to indicate a minor or understated decrease. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a subtle reduction of" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a small, often barely perceptible, decrease. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is appropriate across various contexts, including scientific, news, and general writing. While examples are not abundant, the phrase is versatile and useful for nuanced descriptions of change. When employing this phrase, make sure the context clearly identifies what is being reduced, and avoid overstating the degree of reduction to maintain accuracy and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight decrease in

Focuses on the decrease aspect, less nuanced than 'subtle'.

a marginal reduction of

Emphasizes the small degree of reduction.

a minor lessening of

Replaces 'reduction' with 'lessening', indicating a small degree.

a delicate reduction in

Highlights the finesse and care in the reduction.

a barely perceptible decrease of

Stresses the near imperceptibility of the reduction.

a modest diminution of

Uses a more formal term 'diminution', implying a moderate reduction.

a minimal drop in

Simple term denoting smallest amount of change.

a fractional lessening of

Highlights the very small or divided amount of reduction.

a tempered reduction of

Implies the reduction is controlled or restrained.

a gentle easing of

Emphasizes the smooth and gradual nature of the reduction.

FAQs

How can I use "a subtle reduction of" in a sentence?

Use "a subtle reduction of" to describe a slight or delicate decrease. For example, "There was a subtle reduction of noise after the adjustments".

What can I say instead of "a subtle reduction of"?

You can use alternatives like "a slight decrease in", "a marginal reduction of", or "a minor lessening of" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "a subtle reduction of" and "a significant reduction of"?

"A subtle reduction of" indicates a small, often barely noticeable decrease, while "a significant reduction of" implies a much larger and more impactful decrease.

When is it appropriate to use "a subtle reduction of" instead of "a gentle easing of"?

"A subtle reduction of" is suitable when describing a slight quantitative decrease. "A gentle easing of" is better used for gradual changes or the lessening of restrictions or pressure.