curtail time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'curtail time' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to reducing or limiting the amount of time a certain task or process takes. For example, "We need to find a way to curtail time spent on this project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Here are some of them: ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE, Mr. Greene says the punishment should fit the crime; nonviolent, first-time offenders should be eligible for pretrial intervention programs to curtail time behind bars.

The New York Times

They confused a genuinely inexorable historical process - the worldwide diffusion of new technologies that abolish or curtail time and distance - with market deregulation, a trend that is clearly on the wane.

The Guardian

Herding activity involves time-consuming tasks to watch grazing animals, and it is unwise to curtail time for this activity for two reasons.

American Journal of Human Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

And, if we are burning the midnight oil, working long days and still insisting on catching up with late night television, our sleep in such a curtailed time period may not consist of much else except non-dream sleep because the cumulative effect of lack of sleep will lead to a preference of non dream "sleep debt" to be paid of first.

Huffington Post

This aspiration to specialise often curtailed time working at district level, "you might want to work in the district hospitals but then at a certain point in time you would want to specialise" (student), and for four participants took priority over a preference for district work (Table  1).

BMC Medical Education

As time needed for agricultural activities increases, men have to curtail their time spent on animal care and herding or other activities.

American Journal of Human Biology

He hoped to curtail the time and space that the body had to absorb calories.

The New Yorker

He also had to curtail the time he spent with his friends because he had to get up so early.

The New York Times

Users hoping to curtail their time on Facebook and squeeze in more hours at the gym have flocked to apps like RescueTime and Toggl.

The Guardian - Business

Our robust program in ambulatory care, designed to significantly curtail the time children spend in hospital, was largely enabled by her drive to meet the needs of children and families in treatment.

The New York Times

Whereas exogenous BMIs that associate volitional control of brain activity with neurofeedback have been shown to induce long lasting plasticity, endogenous BMIs that use prolonged activity-dependent stimulation – and thus may curtail the time scale that governs natural sensorimotor integration loops – have been shown to induce short lasting plasticity.

Neurobiology of Disease

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to "curtail time" on a task, prioritize identifying the most time-consuming steps and finding ways to streamline them.

Common error

Avoid focusing solely on trivial activities when trying to "curtail time"; instead, address the key bottlenecks that consume the majority of time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "curtail time" functions primarily as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating an action performed on time. As Ludwig AI states, it signifies reducing or limiting the amount of time spent on something. Examples show its use in diverse contexts, indicating a broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "curtail time" is a grammatically sound and understandable expression used to denote the reduction or limitation of time spent on an activity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and applicability in various contexts. While not extremely frequent, it is most commonly found in news, science, and formal business publications. When aiming to use "curtail time" effectively, focus on streamlining time-consuming steps and avoiding overemphasis on minor tasks. Consider using alternatives like ""minimize time"" or "reduce time" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimize time

Focuses on reducing time to the smallest possible amount.

reduce time

Emphasizes lessening the duration.

shorten time

Highlights making the time period briefer.

limit time

Suggests setting a maximum duration.

constrain time

Implies restricting the available time.

lessen time

Similar to reduce, but may imply a gradual decrease.

alleviate time

Focuses on making the time commitment less burdensome.

diminish time

Emphasizes a reduction in the perceived or actual time.

stop time

Indicates bringing the time spent on something to a halt. Somewhat stronger.

halt time

Implies a sudden stop in the time allocated.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "curtail time" in a sentence?

Use "curtail time" to describe the act of reducing or limiting the amount of time spent on a particular activity. For instance, "The new software is designed to "minimize time" spent on data entry".

What are some alternatives to saying "curtail time"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "reduce time", "shorten time", or "limit time" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "curtail time" and "reduce time"?

"Curtail time" often implies a deliberate effort to cut back or restrict time, while "reduce time" simply suggests a decrease in the amount of time. The nuance depends on the specific context.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "curtail time"?

The phrase "curtail time" is appropriate in contexts where you are discussing the need to limit or reduce the duration of an activity, process, or event. For example, it can be used in project management, healthcare, or manufacturing to describe efforts to "minimize time" expenditure.