attempt to decrease

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attempt to decrease" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing efforts or actions taken to reduce something, such as costs, risks, or negative impacts. Example: "The company made an attempt to decrease its carbon footprint by implementing more sustainable practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Coated-wire electrodes were designed in an attempt to decrease the response time of ion-selective electrodes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Most people considering nicotine replacement systems, other prescription medications or other measures have already failed at least some attempt to decrease or stop on their own.

Harvard University

A prize of £100 was offered in return for entering an email address, in an attempt to decrease the proportion of users who might leave this field blank.

Nature

An alternative strategy of lowering the annealing/extension temperature (LT) at 56 °C was designed to attempt to decrease the heights of stutter peaks.

Forensic Science International: Genetics

BHAL should be taught to Junior doctors in an attempt to decrease the number of patients transferred in tertiary referral centers for intractable PPH.

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology

Jia Tolentino ends her article on Columbia University's attempt to decrease instances of sexual assault on campus with a hypothetical scenario described as a drunken "blur" ("Safer Spaces," February 12th & 19th).

The New Yorker

The new legislation is an attempt to decrease uncertainty about the maintenance period for reserve calculation, while maintaining the provisions for stabilizing money market interest rates and enlarging structural liquidity shortages in the banking system.

Columbia University

The revision proved less than successful, and in 1990 the City Planning Commission established new building districts in an attempt to decrease the flood of new building in Manhattan.

Britannica

(3) We will optimize the analysis in an attempt to decrease the complexity of the algorithm.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

This could undermine the attempt to decrease the need for fossil fuels.

Forbes

The fluorination reaction was then evaluated under continuous flow conditions in an attempt to decrease the reaction time.

EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "attempt to decrease", ensure the context clearly identifies what is being reduced. For instance, specify "attempt to decrease costs" or "attempt to decrease risks" to enhance clarity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, repeatedly using "attempt to decrease" can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "aim to reduce", "try to lessen", or "seek to diminish" /s/aim+to+reduce. This enhances readability and demonstrates a wider vocabulary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attempt to decrease" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose or intention. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is typically used to introduce an action aimed at reducing or lessening something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

Academia

15%

News & Media

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "attempt to decrease" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that indicates an effort to reduce something. According to Ludwig AI, it is commonly found in scientific, academic, and news contexts. While versatile, varying your vocabulary with synonyms like "aim to reduce" or "try to lessen" can enhance your writing. Always specify what you are trying to decrease for clarity, and be mindful of the register to ensure it aligns with your intended audience. By following these guidelines, you can effectively use "attempt to decrease" and similar phrases in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aim to reduce

Replaces "attempt" with "aim" and "decrease" with "reduce", creating a more direct and purposeful connotation.

try to lessen

Substitutes "attempt" with "try" and "decrease" with "lessen", resulting in a more casual and less forceful expression of the intent to reduce something.

seek to diminish

Replaces "attempt" with "seek" and "decrease" with "diminish", altering the tone slightly towards a more formal or determined effort.

strive to minimize

Replaces "attempt" with "strive" and "decrease" with "minimize", suggesting a strong effort to reduce something to the smallest possible amount.

seek to abate

Replaces both words for more formal synonyms, "seek" and "abate", suggesting a more determined effort to lessen something.

endeavor to curtail

Replaces both words for more formal synonyms, "endeavor" and "curtail", elevating the register and suggesting a more determined effort.

undertake to mitigate

Employs formal language with "undertake" and "mitigate", suggesting a serious and planned effort to reduce negative effects.

make an effort to cut down

Uses a more idiomatic expression with "make an effort" and "cut down", making it sound less formal and more practical.

work towards lowering

Focuses on the process of reduction by using "work towards" and "lowering", implying a gradual and ongoing effort.

take steps to alleviate

Shifts the focus to the actions taken by using "take steps" and replaces "decrease" with "alleviate", suggesting a reduction in suffering or severity.

FAQs

How can I use "attempt to decrease" in a sentence?

The phrase "attempt to decrease" is used to describe actions taken to reduce something. For example: "The company made an "attempt to decrease" its carbon footprint".

What are some alternatives to "attempt to decrease"?

You can use alternatives like "try to lessen", "aim to reduce" /s/aim+to+reduce, or "seek to diminish" /s/seek+to+diminish depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to specify what I'm trying to decrease when using "attempt to decrease"?

For clarity, it's best to specify what you're trying to decrease. For instance, say "attempt to decrease costs" rather than just "attempt to decrease" unless the context is already very clear.

What is the difference between "attempt to decrease" and "endeavor to curtail"?

"Endeavor to curtail" /s/endeavor+to+curtail is a more formal and strong synonym that suggests a more determined effort and elevated register compared to the more neutral "attempt to decrease".