considerable lessening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "considerable lessening" is not correct in standard English; it should be "considerable lessening" or "considerable reduction." You can use it when discussing a significant decrease in something, such as quantity, intensity, or severity.
Example: "The considerable lessening of pollution levels in the city has led to improved air quality."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

TAIPEI, Taiwan Taiwanan on Saturday elected its first president who had campaigned for closer relations with Beijing, paving the way for a considerable lessening of tensions in one of Asia's oldest flash points.

The New York Times

But I can't help noticing a considerable lessening of foot traffic at shopping malls and movie houses.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

dRashtra Swasthya Bima Yojana is a National health insurance scheme that reduces out-of-pocket expenditure for health care and lessens considerable financial burden on the poorest of the poor.

Health Research Policy and Systems

There is diversity, however; 10 countries show a worsening gap for the CPR (12 for the mCPR), in some cases by a considerable margin of 10 or more points, while the other 15 countries show lessening gaps.

Global health, science and practice

US officials are refusing to discuss the option of an extension of a few months, for fear of lessening the pressure on negotiators to make concessions in the last week of talks, but there is still a considerable distance between the negotiating positions of the Iranians and a six-nation group representing the international community.

The Guardian

But the pressure is lessening.

The Economist

Just possibly, outflows may be lessening.

The Economist

The urge to save may be lessening.

The Economist

Lessening Congo's Violence.

Forbes

Lessening Banking Crisis.

Forbes

Ibuprofen showed lessening of effectiveness with time.

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for "considerable reduction" when you want to clearly convey a significant decrease in something.

Common error

Avoid using "lessening" directly to modify nouns as if it were an adjective. Instead, restructure the sentence to use "reduction" or a similar noun.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "considerable lessening" functions as a noun phrase, intending to describe a significant decrease. While understandable, it's not grammatically standard. Ludwig flags this as potentially incorrect, suggesting that alternatives like "considerable reduction" are more appropriate.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "considerable lessening" aims to convey a notable decrease, it's not considered standard English. According to Ludwig AI, grammatically sound alternatives such as "considerable reduction" or "significant decrease" are preferable for clarity and correctness. Though it appears in news and scientific contexts, its usage is infrequent. Therefore, opting for more conventional phrasing is advisable to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerable reduction

Replaces "lessening" with its more common and grammatically preferred synonym, "reduction".

significant reduction

Replaces "lessening" with "reduction", emphasizing the act of making something smaller or less.

substantial decrease

Substitutes both words for synonyms highlighting the extent and the action of diminishing.

marked decline

Uses different nouns and verbs to indicate a downward trend.

noticeable diminution

Employs more formal vocabulary to denote a reduction in size or importance.

appreciable reduction

Focuses on the quality of the reduction being easily perceived or measured.

significant alleviation

Change 'lessening' to 'alleviation' to convey the effect of reducing pain, suffering, or difficulty.

substantial easing

Uses "easing" to suggest a reduction in pressure or tension, while maintaining the emphasis on a significant level.

marked attenuation

Attenuation suggests a weakening or reduction in force or intensity, providing a more technical alternative.

clear abatement

Abatement implies a lessening or reduction in something negative, like a nuisance or pollution, focusing on the relief provided.

FAQs

Is "considerable lessening" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "considerable lessening" isn't considered standard English. It's better to use phrases like "considerable reduction" or "significant decrease".

What are some alternatives to "considerable lessening"?

Alternatives include "substantial reduction", "significant drop", or "marked decline", depending on the context.

How can I use "considerable lessening" in a sentence?

While not recommended, if you insist on using it, ensure the context makes the meaning clear. However, it's advisable to rephrase using a more standard expression like "significant alleviation".

Is there a difference between "considerable lessening" and "considerable reduction"?

Yes. "Considerable reduction" is grammatically correct and widely accepted, while "considerable lessening" is less common and can sound awkward to native English speakers. Preferring "considerable reduction" ensures clarity and correctness.