decrease the gap

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decrease the gap" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to express the idea of reducing a difference or disparity between two things, such as in discussions about economics, education, or social issues. Example: "Our goal is to implement strategies that will help decrease the gap in educational attainment between different socioeconomic groups."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

They created the post of commissioner of education and established per-district spending guidelines to decrease the gap between rich and poor schools.

The New York Times

Since a rise of the haptic voltage would decrease the gap through increase of electrostatic attraction force, the electrostatic force would be enhanced deviating from the square-law.

ROBOMECH Journal

Therefore, it is a need to develop ways to integrate qualitative and quantitative approaches that may decrease the gap between the complexity, ambiguity and uncertainty of the foresight data presented and the analytical tools used to address them.

European Journal of Futures Research

Although there is limited research in this field, more is needed to decrease the gap between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites regarding living kidney donation.

Huffington Post

Sixty-nine percent of Americans say the government should work to decrease the gap between the rich and everyone else, and 73percentt support increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, according to a recent Pew Research/USA Today survey.

Huffington Post

"The Google recognition over the SOMAI project translates into having the support to decrease the gap between the information produced by researchers and the people that need that information to develop adaptation strategies - namely, the indigenous people of Amazon," Bortolotto said.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

In the blanket, a trapezoidal U-shaped first wall (FW) was adopted to decrease the gaps between blanket modules.

Progress in Nuclear Energy

While real wages stagnated (by some accounts decreased), the gap between those at the bottom and the middle increased – by 9% in less than a decade.

The Guardian - Business

We observed that the critical current increases with decreasing the gap.

Physica C: Superconductivity and its Applications

We find that (ZnCu + CuZn) and (ZnCu + VCu) affect the band gap energies in an opposite way: (ZnCu + CuZn) decreases the gap whereas (ZnCu + VCu) increases the gap.

Thin Solid Films

More girls than boys continue to meet the phonics standard but this gap is decreasing, the gap between pupils eligible for free school meals and all other pupils has narrowed again, which is welcome," said Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decrease the gap", clearly define what gap you are referring to. This makes your writing more precise and understandable. For example, specify "decrease the achievement gap" or "decrease the income gap".

Common error

Avoid using "decrease the gap" without specifying the context. Saying "we need to decrease the gap" lacks clarity. Instead, identify the specific gap you aim to reduce to provide a clear understanding of your objective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decrease the gap" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "decrease" is the verb and "the gap" is the direct object. It describes the action of reducing a difference or disparity between two things. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which identifies the phrase as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decrease the gap" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that conveys the action of reducing a difference or disparity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, ranging from academic and scientific discussions to news reports and general conversations. Predominantly used in the fields of science and news, the phrase aims to express intentions to diminish inequalities, with alternatives like "narrow the disparity" and "reduce the difference" offering similar meanings. When employing "decrease the gap", it's crucial to clearly define the specific gap to ensure clarity and precision in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

narrow the disparity

Emphasizes reducing the inequality or difference between two things.

reduce the difference

Focuses on lessening the numerical or qualitative variation.

bridge the divide

Suggests connecting or uniting separate entities or groups.

close the divide

Focuses on making a divide less prominent.

lessen the divide

Emphasizes a lessening of separation.

alleviate the disparity

Implies relieving or making the inequality more bearable.

mitigate the difference

Suggests reducing the severity of the distinction.

minimize the gap

Focuses on reducing the gap to the smallest amount possible.

ameliorate the inequality

Highlights improving a situation of unfairness.

shrink the divide

Suggests making the divide less significant.

FAQs

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

You can use "decrease the gap" to talk about reducing inequalities or differences. For example, "The new policies aim to decrease the gap between the rich and the poor" or "Further research is needed to decrease the gap in knowledge about this disease".

What are some alternatives to "decrease the gap"?

You can use alternatives like "narrow the disparity", "reduce the difference", or "bridge the divide" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "decrease the gap" or "close the gap"?

Both "decrease the gap" and "close the gap" are acceptable, but they have slightly different connotations. "Decrease the gap" suggests a gradual reduction, while "close the gap" implies a more complete elimination of the difference.

What's the difference between "decrease the gap" and "reduce the gap"?

"Decrease the gap" and "reduce the gap" are largely interchangeable and mean the same thing. The choice often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.