decrease the distance

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "decrease the distance" is correct and usable in written English and can be used in many contexts.
For example, "The two countries are slowly decreasing the distance between them as they move towards closer diplomatic ties."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Cumulatively, these mechanisms increase heterogeneity within each racial or ethnic group, and decrease the distance separating groups from each other.

Harvard University

Saying that he used to make the same mistakes, Rodriguez said Nunez should have been playing shallower, corralling the grounder on one hop and moving forward to decrease the distance from Teixeira.

The New York Times - Sports

An increase in coflow temperature and the addition of small quantities of higher alkanes both increase ignition frequencies, and decrease the distance between the jet exit and the location where the first ignition kernels appear.

Combustion and Flame

In this algorithm we want to decrease the distance of objective functions from ideal point.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Self-driving (and potentially connected) cars, however, may be able to dramatically decrease the distance between vehicles, and even move in unison with other cars.

Forbes

In fact, we let the sink node dispatch agents to the outermost location of the path to decrease the distance that the agent loaded with data migrates.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

While the repeat simulation also decreased the distance between helices 5 and 8, a tight seal was not achieved.

Nature

Higher electrical output increased barrier effectiveness by decreasing the distance required to incapacitation.

Journal of Great Lakes Research

Decreasing the distance of the nozzle from the bottom of the liquid pool increases the volume of CO2 desorbed.

Chemical Engineering Science

There is no seating, but the reason for that is unclear, apart from how it decreases the distance of the performers to the audience.

The New York Times - Arts

Also, as the Ag ink ratio was decreased, the distance between adjacent Si nanostructures decreased.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In persuasive writing, frame "decreasing the distance" as bridging gaps and facilitating understanding for broader appeal.

Common error

Avoid using "decrease the distance" when referring to abstract relationships or emotional states where words like "reduce", "alleviate", or "bridge" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decrease the distance" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often used to describe an action taken to diminish the space or interval between two points, objects, or concepts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

26%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decrease the distance" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression, particularly in scientific and technical contexts. It conveys the idea of reducing the space or interval between two things, as confirmed by Ludwig. While "reduce the distance" serves as a direct substitute, context dictates optimal word choice to convey a precise tone and meaning. Ludwig's examples show its application in areas ranging from self-driving cars to abstract concepts. Remember that, although acceptable, there are some contexts for which this expression may not be suited, thus the advice is to be careful of abstract and emotional associations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce the gap

This alternative focuses on the space between two things, similar to distance, but implies a reduction in a more abstract or figurative context.

narrow the separation

This alternative highlights the act of making the space between two things smaller, emphasizing the reduction in separation.

shorten the span

This alternative emphasizes the length or extent of the space being reduced.

lessen the interval

This alternative focuses on the space between two points in time or space, implying a reduction in that interval.

bring closer together

This alternative uses a more active voice, emphasizing the act of moving two things nearer to each other.

close the space

This alternative highlights the act of eliminating or filling the space between two things.

tighten the range

This alternative is suited when referring to the variation or scope between two extremes.

draw nearer

This emphasizes the movement and approach, suitable when discussing proximity or convergence.

minimize the space

This suggests making the space as small as possible, indicating optimization or efficiency.

contract the distance

This emphasizes the act of shrinking or compressing the space.

FAQs

What does "decrease the distance" mean?

The phrase "decrease the distance" means to make the space between two objects, points, or ideas smaller. It implies a reduction in the extent of separation.

How can I use "decrease the distance" in a sentence?

You can use "decrease the distance" in sentences like: "Self-driving cars may be able to dramatically "decrease the distance" between vehicles", or "We need to "decrease the distance" between our goals and our actions".

What are some alternatives to "decrease the distance"?

Some alternatives to "decrease the distance" include "reduce the gap", "narrow the separation", or "shorten the span", depending on the context.

Is it better to use "decrease the distance" or "reduce the distance"?

"Decrease the distance" and "reduce the distance" are often interchangeable. "Reduce" may sound slightly more formal, but both are grammatically correct and widely understood. The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.