can be lessened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can be lessened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the possibility of reducing the severity, intensity, or impact of something. Example: "The effects of stress can be lessened through regular exercise and mindfulness practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

By treating digraphs in the plaintext as units rather than as single letters, the extent to which the raw frequency distribution survives the encryption process can be lessened but not eliminated, as letter pairs are themselves highly correlated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

While the coverage in the New York Times has been overly sensational, all the controversy it generated got the yoga community talking about the risk of injuries and how they can be lessened, and that's a good thing.

HuffPost

If Sketch renderings could be updated instantly with only modifications to code, that bottleneck can be lessened.

TechCrunch

Lacerations and hematomas resulting from birth trauma can cause significant blood loss that can be lessened by hemostasis and timely repair.

WikiHow

That risk can be lessened by surveillance.

The Economist

These footprints can be lessened through small steps in the form of simple habit changes.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

And which of those traits can be modified so that the rates of injuries can be lessened?

The New York Times - Magazine

The chance of organ death can be lessened with anti-rejection drugs, but these drugs have serious side-effects.

The Guardian

The formation of such dimers can be lessened by increasing the temperature from 30 °C to 100 °C.

Polymer

By 1952, the American Heart Association had already identified obesity as a cardiac risk factor that can be lessened with exercise and a proper diet.

The New Yorker

One can only hope that this tragedy can be lessened by providing the impetus needed for Russia to lead the world into this treaty.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can be lessened" when you want to emphasize the possibility of reducing the severity or impact of a problem or situation. For example, "The risk of infection can be lessened by frequent hand washing."

Common error

While "can be lessened" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound weak. Consider rewriting the sentence in active voice for a more direct and impactful statement. Instead of "The impact can be lessened by doing X", try "Doing X can lessen the impact".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be lessened" functions as a modal passive construction. It indicates the possibility of reducing the intensity, severity, or impact of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can be lessened" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to convey the possibility of reducing the impact or severity of something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It finds application across diverse contexts, including news, science, encyclopedias, and wikis, reflecting its broad acceptability. While interchangeable with alternatives like "can be reduced" or "can be mitigated", writers should be mindful of the passive voice construction and consider active voice alternatives for stronger impact. By understanding its function, purpose, and common usage, writers can effectively incorporate "can be lessened" into their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can be reduced

Replaces 'lessened' with 'reduced', focusing on the act of diminishing something.

can be mitigated

Uses 'mitigated' to emphasize the act of alleviating or moderating the impact.

can be alleviated

Substitutes 'lessened' with 'alleviated', suggesting a relief from difficulty or pain.

can be diminished

Replaces 'lessened' with 'diminished', highlighting a decrease in size or importance.

can be decreased

Employs 'decreased' to indicate a reduction in quantity or intensity.

can be minimized

Uses 'minimized' to convey the idea of reducing something to the smallest possible amount or degree.

can be weakened

Replaces 'lessened' with 'weakened', focusing on reducing the strength or power of something.

can be softened

Substitutes 'lessened' with 'softened', suggesting a reduction in harshness or severity.

can be attenuated

Uses 'attenuated' to imply a reduction in force, effect, or value.

can be curtailed

Replaces 'lessened' with 'curtailed', focusing on restricting or reducing something.

FAQs

What does "can be lessened" mean?

The phrase "can be lessened" means that something has the potential to be reduced in intensity, severity, or impact. It suggests a possibility of mitigation or alleviation.

What can I say instead of "can be lessened"?

You can use alternatives like "can be reduced", "can be mitigated", or "can be alleviated" depending on the specific context.

How to use "can be lessened" in a sentence?

You can use "can be lessened" to describe how the negative effects of something can be reduced. For example: "The severity of the symptoms can be lessened with medication."

Is it better to use "can be lessened" or "can be reduced"?

Both "can be lessened" and "can be reduced" are correct and often interchangeable. "Can be lessened" might be preferred when implying a gradual or subtle reduction, while "can be reduced" is more general.