at tightening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at tightening" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a process or action related to tightening something, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "The bolt was secured at tightening to ensure it wouldn't loosen over time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

There were also attempts at tightening imperial control over the local society and economy.

Britannica

But the clean-up effort may also be aimed at tightening control over information that gets released.

The Economist

Last year, the Labor Department proposed new regulations aimed at tightening protections for children doing farm work.

The New York Times

Last month Senator Chuck Grassley reintroduced a bill aimed at tightening restrictions on the H-1B visa program.

The Guardian

The 200-plus-page report looks at several issues related to laws aimed at tightening rules around voting.

The Washington Post

Newly empowered Democrats in Albany have hopes of approving a cadre of bills aimed at tightening rent regulations.

The New York Times

"We've already said that we'll look again at tightening our carbon budgets once an international agreement has been achieved".

The Guardian

But it should now look at tightening up MOTs and outlawing the removal of pollution filters altogether".

The Guardian

In the last Congress, bipartisan bills emerged in the Senate and House aimed at tightening restrictions on flea market vendors.

The New York Times

The president has taken a few swipes at tightening some social freedoms, banning Western music, for example, but that edict has hardly been enforced.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The agency says its officers face increasing violence from smugglers frustrated at tightened enforcement.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions intended to make something more strict, use the infinitive form "to tighten" or a phrase like "aimed at tightening" for better grammatical clarity.

Common error

Using the phrase "at tightening" can be grammatically ambiguous. Instead, clarify the sentence by using "to tighten" or restructuring the sentence to use a more explicit verb form.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at tightening" functions primarily as part of a prepositional phrase, often indicating purpose or direction. However, Ludwig AI notes that it is not grammatically sound. Despite its frequent appearance, alternative phrasing might provide clarity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at tightening" is frequently used, particularly in news and media, to describe efforts aimed at enhancing control or security. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically questionable, suggesting that while common, it may not be the most precise or grammatically sound choice. Alternative phrases like "to tighten" or "aimed at tightening" can offer greater clarity and grammatical correctness. Despite its common usage, writers should consider these alternatives to ensure their writing is both clear and grammatically accurate. Top sources using the phrase include The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Washington Post.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aimed at tightening

Adds a purpose or intention to the action.

focused on tightening

Emphasizes concentration on the act of tightening.

to tighten

Infinitive form offers a clearer grammatical structure.

in order to tighten

Clearly indicates the reason or goal of tightening.

designed for tightening

Highlights that something was specifically created for the purpose.

for tightening

Gerund form specifies the purpose of tightening.

with the goal of tightening

Provides more context and formality to the intent.

with the intention of tightening

Similar to "with the goal of", but highlights the deliberate plan.

to allow tightening

Indicates enabling of the tightening process.

to facilitate tightening

Emphasizes the easing or aiding of the tightening.

FAQs

How can I use the verb tighten correctly in a sentence?

To use the verb tighten correctly, opt for the infinitive form “to tighten” or a gerund phrase like “aimed "at tightening"”. For example, “The regulations are to tighten security” is grammatically sound.

What are alternatives to using "at tightening" in my writing?

Instead of “at tightening”, consider using “to tighten” or “for tightening”. You can also rephrase to use “aimed "at tightening"” to convey the intended meaning more clearly.

Is it grammatically correct to say "at tightening"?

While “at tightening” is found in some contexts, it is often considered grammatically questionable. It's better to use clearer constructions like “to tighten” or “aimed "at tightening"” for grammatical accuracy.

How does rephrasing improve the clarity of using the term "at tightening"?

Rephrasing a sentence with “at tightening” to use constructions like “to tighten” or “intending "to tighten"” enhances clarity and ensures grammatical correctness, reducing ambiguity in your writing.