decrease the risk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decrease the risk" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in any context in which the speaker or writer wants to encourage some behavior that would reduce hazardous or dangerous risks. For example, "Driving the speed limit is the only way to decrease the risk of a road accident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

That will increase rather than decrease the risk of secular stagnation.

The Guardian - Business

Tamoxifen can also decrease the risk of fractures.

The New York Times - Health

These steps will greatly decrease the risk of nasty nuclear surprises like those delivered by Iran and Libya.

The New York Times

The collaboration aims to decrease the risk of developing leprosy, and reduce further transmission of the mycobacteria causing the disease.

The Guardian

Decrease the risk of fire because they operate only when someone is in the house drawing hot water.

The New York Times

37 Scientists Honored Two scientists whose work helped decrease the risk of transmitting hepatitis through blood transfusions are among six winners of the Albert Lasker medical research awards.

The New York Times

Foam rolling as well as dynamic stretching can help improve flexibility and range of movement, and decrease the risk of injury.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Conversion to a smaller, better-equipped force will allow more effective defense against any foreign threats and would decrease the risk to democracy from restive, underpaid military officers.

The New York Times

Yet this would increase, rather than decrease, the risk of bank failures.

The New York Times

Has Apple taken any action to decrease the risk of overheating in its devices?

TechCrunch

Another patent suggests deliveries by parachute, which would decrease the risk of drones colliding with children, pets or backyard furniture.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decrease the risk", specify what actions or measures are being taken to achieve this reduction. For instance, "Implementing safety protocols will decrease the risk of workplace accidents."

Common error

Avoid using "decrease the risk" without providing context or measurable outcomes. Instead of saying "This will decrease the risk", clarify by stating "This measure will decrease the risk of infection by 20%."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decrease the risk" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe an action intended to lower the probability or severity of a potential negative outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decrease the risk" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe actions that lower the probability or severity of potential harm. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used across various fields, including science, news, business, and general knowledge. While alternatives like "reduce the risk", "lessen the risk", and "mitigate the risk" exist, the choice often depends on the desired tone and specific context. To ensure clear communication, it's important to specify the actions taken to decrease the risk and, where possible, quantify the expected reduction. Overall, understanding the nuances of "decrease the risk" enables more effective and precise communication in risk management and related fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce the risk

Uses "reduce" instead of "decrease", offering a direct synonym with identical meaning.

lessen the risk

Employs "lessen" as a synonym for "decrease", slightly altering the tone but maintaining the core concept.

lower the risk

Replaces "decrease" with "lower", a simple and direct synonym that keeps the phrase concise.

mitigate the risk

Replaces "decrease" with "mitigate", suggesting a more active effort to diminish the risk's impact.

minimize the risk

Uses "minimize" instead of "decrease", conveying an intention to reduce the risk to the smallest possible level.

diminish the risk

Uses "diminish" as a synonym for "decrease", suggesting a gradual reduction in the risk's magnitude.

alleviate the risk

Substitutes "decrease" with "alleviate", implying a reduction in the severity or intensity of the risk.

curtail the risk

Employs "curtail" which implies limiting or restricting the risk.

reduce the probability

Focuses on lowering the likelihood of a negative event, shifting from the risk itself to its chance of occurrence.

control the risk

Implies managing and keeping the risk within acceptable bounds, rather than necessarily eliminating it entirely.

FAQs

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

You can use "decrease the risk" to describe actions that reduce potential harm, such as, "Regular exercise can "decrease the risk" of heart disease".

What are some alternatives to saying "decrease the risk"?

Alternatives include phrases like "reduce the risk", "lessen the risk", or "mitigate the risk", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "decrease the risk" or "reduce the risk"?

"Decrease the risk" and "reduce the risk" are largely interchangeable. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific tone you want to convey.

What's the difference between "decrease the risk" and "eliminate the risk"?

"Decrease the risk" implies a reduction in the likelihood or severity of a negative outcome, while "eliminate the risk" suggests completely removing any possibility of that outcome occurring. "Eliminate the risk" is a stronger, more absolute statement.