calm the situation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "calm the situation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe the action of calming a tense or chaotic situation. For example, "John used his diplomatic skills to calm the situation between the two arguing neighbors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He said tribal elders arrived to calm the situation.

The New York Times

Numerous attempts to calm the situation fell short.

The New York Times

Danish peacekeepers were trying to calm the situation.

The New York Times

"Anything that helps calm the situation, I think is for the better".

The New York Times - Tech

They need to calm the situation and avoid further loss of life".

The New Yorker

On Tuesday night, Mr. Obama called Mr. Netanyahu to try to calm the situation.

The New York Times

It is "imperative," he said, that Libya's new rulers do everything possible to calm the situation.

The New York Times

"We urge the political and patriotic leaders and forces to intervene to calm the situation".

The New York Times

China's attempts to send an envoy to Pyongyang to calm the situation have been rebuffed.

The Washington Post

Investors are still jittery about Italy's budget, despite the government's attempts to calm the situation today.

The Guardian - Business

By most accounts, police did little – or nothing – to calm the situation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "calm the situation", ensure that your writing clearly indicates who is performing the calming action and what specific actions are being taken to achieve this.

Common error

Avoid vague statements about needing to "calm the situation" without specifying who should take action. Instead of saying 'The situation needs to be calmed', specify 'The mediator should calm the situation'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "calm the situation" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action that needs to be performed. It encapsulates the idea of reducing tension, restoring order, or preventing escalation in a tense or chaotic environment. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Reference

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "calm the situation" is a versatile and frequently used phrase for describing actions taken to reduce tension and restore order. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and applicable in various contexts. It's most commonly found in news and media, but also appears in formal business settings. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly indicate who is performing the action and what steps are being taken. Alternatives like ""ease the situation"" or ""defuse the situation"" can provide nuanced meaning depending on the specific context. Avoid overuse of the passive voice to maintain clarity and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defuse the situation

Emphasizes the act of preventing a situation from escalating.

ease the situation

Substitutes "calm" with "ease", focusing on reducing difficulty or tension.

de-escalate the situation

Specifically targets the reduction of intensity in a conflict.

placate the situation

Replaces "calm" with "placate", emphasizing appeasement.

pacify the situation

Replaces "calm" with "pacify", highlighting the act of bringing peace.

alleviate the situation

Replaces "calm" with "alleviate", suggesting a reduction in the severity of the problem.

stabilize the situation

Focuses on bringing stability and order to a chaotic situation.

assuage the situation

Replaces "calm" with "assuage", suggesting soothing or lessening the intensity of the situation.

soothe the situation

Replaces "calm" with "soothe", focusing on providing comfort and relief.

mitigate the situation

Highlights efforts to lessen negative consequences.

FAQs

How can I use "calm the situation" in a sentence?

You can use "calm the situation" to describe actions taken to reduce tension or restore order. For example, "The negotiator tried to calm the situation between the protesters and the police."

What are some alternatives to "calm the situation"?

Some alternatives to "calm the situation" include "ease the situation", "defuse the situation", or "stabilize the situation".

What's the difference between "calm the situation" and "resolve the situation"?

"Calm the situation" implies a temporary reduction in tension, while "resolve the situation" suggests a more permanent solution to the underlying problem.

Is it correct to say "calm down the situation"?

While "calm down" is a common phrasal verb, using "calm the situation" is more precise and often preferred in formal writing. "Calm down" is usually applied to people, not situations.