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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
curtailed
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The word "curtailed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an activity that has been stopped or shortened in duration. For example: "Due to budget constraints, the school has been forced to curtail several after school clubs."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Formal & Business
Science
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
You say I have 'pared down our liberty at an astonishing rate', then list a whole lot of fundamental rights, as if these had all been drastically curtailed.
News & Media
There are gratuitous new restrictions on an already heavily curtailed right to strike, plans to rob the earnings of migrants who may work hard but lack the proper paperwork, and such a sweeping ban on legal highs that government lawyers could soon be fretting about accidentally criminalising sweets that give a sugar rush.
News & Media
Though Forfar have come agonisingly close to causing an upset against Rangers in the past, he points out: 'There is a bigger gap between the two teams now than when we played them before.' Celtic, who face a rather tougher looking Scottish Cup hurdle at Aberdeen tomorrow, are sweating on the fitness of Henrik Larsson, whose training has been curtailed because of a hamstring injury.
News & Media
As a result, from the start of 2013, countless theatres, museums and orchestras will see their funding either severely curtailed or, like the Internationaal Danstheater, cut off altogether.
News & Media
The first six weeks of Fifth Brigade's attacks were massive in their intensity but, as the documents show, an order was given for them to be curtailed after news had leaked to the outside world.
News & Media
Ian Junior's career was mortally curtailed following a series of allegations of political lobbying on behalf of a property developer who was seeking a contract to construct a new visitors' centre at the world famous Giant's Causeway site.
News & Media
Bankers have warned time and again that if their bonuses are curtailed, they will move to places where there are no such restrictions – robbing the country of vital income.
News & Media
In fact, a focus on individual behaviour provides cover for the tobacco, food, beverage, and alcohol industries as they expand into developing countries: they are uninterested in having their production and marketing of products curtailed through regulation or restrictions, nor the profits that wide consumption ensures.
News & Media
But many campaigners speak of a "hidden crisis" in which intimidation continues and freedoms are curtailed along with widespread poverty and joblessness.
News & Media
The passing of the USA Freedom Act last week curtailed so-called "section 215" bulk collection of phone record metadata – information about who called whom, and timings, but not the content of conversations.
News & Media
The right to trial by jury, the right to silence, the right not to be punished until a court has decided that the law has been broken, the right to demonstrate and protest, the presumption of innocence, the right to private communication, the right to travel without surveillance and the details of that journey being retained - all have been curtailed by your legislation.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Use "curtailed" to indicate a formal or official reduction or limitation, especially when referring to rights, freedoms, or resources.
Common error
Avoid using "curtailed" in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler terms like "shortened" or "reduced" for everyday situations.
Source & Trust
91%
Authority and reliability
4.6/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
Curtailed functions primarily as a verb in the past tense or as a past participle. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, often describing actions that reduce or limit something. Examples show its use with rights, freedoms, and programs.
Frequent in
News & Media
54%
Formal & Business
24%
Science
22%
Less common in
Academia
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The word "curtailed" is a versatile term, primarily functioning as a verb to describe the action of reducing or limiting something. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in formal and neutral contexts, such as news articles and business reports. Its communicative purpose is to inform about imposed restrictions, as evidenced by its frequent appearance in sources like The Economist and The Guardian. While "curtailed" is a strong choice for formal writing, simpler alternatives such as "reduced" or "limited" may be more suitable for informal contexts.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
cut short
Emphasizes the abrupt ending of something, similar to "curtailed" in its sense of reducing duration.
restricted
Highlights the imposition of rules or constraints, similar to "curtailed" in controlling scope.
scaled back
Suggests a deliberate reduction in size or scope, akin to "curtailed" in its managed decrease.
reduced
A more general term indicating a decrease in quantity, size, or extent.
limited
Focuses on setting restrictions or boundaries, akin to "curtailed" in its limiting effect.
diminished
Indicates a lessening or weakening, like "curtailed" in its reducing impact.
abbreviated
Emphasizes the shortening of something, similar to "curtailed" in reducing length.
pared down
Implies a reduction to essential elements, much like "curtailed" in its streamlining effect.
abridged
Focuses on the shortened version of a text or work, similar to "curtailed" in its compact form.
retrenched
Indicates a reduction in expenses or staff, like "curtailed" in its cutting back impact.
FAQs
How to use "curtailed" in a sentence?
You can use "curtailed" to describe something that has been reduced or limited. For example, "Due to budget cuts, the program's funding was curtailed."
What can I say instead of "curtailed"?
Which is correct, "curtailed" or "curtailed"?
Both "curtailed" and "curtailed" can be used, but the choice depends on the intended tense. "Curtailed" is the past tense and past participle of "curtail", while "curtail" is the base form of the verb.
What's the difference between "curtailed" and "restricted"?
"Curtailed" implies a reduction in scope or duration, while "restricted" suggests the imposition of limits or constraints. "Curtailed" emphasizes the action of shortening, while "restricted" focuses on the state of being limited.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
91%
Authority and reliability
4.6/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested