be effective at reducing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be effective at reducing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the success or impact of a method, strategy, or intervention in lowering something, such as costs, risks, or symptoms. Example: "The new policy is expected to be effective at reducing waste in our production process."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The amazing thing is that he has proven to be right, and has shown that mindfulness meditation can be effective at reducing the effects of OCD.

Huffington Post

The enhanced (experimental) version of each module contained the 'active ingredients' hypothesised to be effective at reducing excessive alcohol consumption.

Nature

Interestingly, the authors demonstrate that FDA-approved JAK1/JAK2 inhibitors may be effective at reducing ageing phenotypes in vivo.

Nature

Worse, they're often chosen over the approaches that have shown to be effective at reducing school violence.

The New York Times

Toothpastes that contain triclosan have been "demonstrated to be effective at reducing plaque and gingivitis," said Andrea Fischer, an F.D.A. spokeswoman.

The New York Times - Health

However, a physical partition separating patients is shown to be effective at reducing cross-contamination of neighbouring patient zones.

Building and Environment

There is evidence, for example, that interventions aimed at increasing discussions surrounding the value of civility at work can be effective at reducing rates of mistreatment.

Harvard Business Review

Products with ibuprofen should be effective at reducing pain, as well as swelling, and tend to be a bit more effective than acetaminophen.

Columbia University

While spring burns can be effective at reducing fuel loads and restoring heterogeneous landscapes, concerns exist over the potential impacts of unnaturally-timed fires to native species.

Forest Ecology and Management

Results show that the eco-ditch can be effective at reducing transport of non-point source of N in-situ, particularly in warm environments.

Ecological Engineering

The study (N = 83) indicates that the program appears to be effective at reducing eating disorder risk factors and increasing empowerment.

Eating Behaviors

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of a specific intervention, use "be effective at reducing" to emphasize its proven or potential success. For example, "This method can be effective at reducing errors".

Common error

Avoid using "be effective at reducing" with abstract or unmeasurable nouns. Saying something is "effective at reducing happiness" is vague; specify what contributes to happiness that is being reduced, such as "stress" or "anxiety".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be effective at reducing" functions as a predicate adjective describing the ability of something to successfully decrease or lessen a particular effect, quantity, or problem. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

28%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be effective at reducing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for describing the capability of something to lessen or minimize an effect. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's common across various fields, especially in science, news, and academia. To enhance your writing, consider using this phrase when emphasizing the positive impact of a method or intervention, and avoid pairing it with unmeasurable nouns. Alternatives such as "prove successful in decreasing" and "play a key role in abating" can add variety to your expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prove successful in decreasing

Emphasizes the proven success of diminishing something.

be instrumental in diminishing

Highlights the crucial role in the process of reduction.

play a key role in abating

Focuses on the significant part taken in lessening something.

assist significantly in curtailing

Highlights the assistance given in the act of restriction.

contribute substantially to lessening

Underscores the considerable input in the reduction process.

help greatly in alleviating

Stresses the helpfulness in easing something.

aid considerably in minimizing

Focuses on the support given to achieve minimization.

be valuable for mitigating

Highlights the worth of the phrase in the context of mitigation.

serve well in lowering

Emphasizes the utility of serving as a means to lower something.

function efficiently in curbing

Highlights the effective performance in restraining something.

FAQs

How can I use "be effective at reducing" in a sentence?

Use "be effective at reducing" to describe methods, strategies, or interventions that successfully decrease something. For instance, "The new policy is expected to be effective at reducing waste."

What are some alternatives to "be effective at reducing"?

You can use alternatives like "prove successful in decreasing", "be instrumental in diminishing", or "play a key role in abating" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "be effective at reducing" in formal writing?

Yes, "be effective at reducing" is suitable for formal writing, especially in scientific, academic, or professional contexts where describing the impact of interventions or strategies is common. Consider the other alternatives listed above, some can be better that others depending on the context.

Can "be effective to reduce" be used instead of "be effective at reducing"?

While both constructions convey a similar meaning, "be effective at reducing" is generally preferred and more grammatically correct. "Be effective to reduce" is less common and may sound awkward to native English speakers.