devote less time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devote less time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the allocation of time to a particular task or activity, indicating a reduction in the amount of time spent. Example: "To improve my work-life balance, I have decided to devote less time to overtime hours at the office."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

NBC will devote less time to the Olympics than it did in Sydney.

The New York Times - Sports

The old coach learns to devote less time to things that are not relevant to long-term goals.

The New York Times - Sports

In addition to creating a healthier environment at home, women and children can devote less time to foraging for fuel.

The New York Times

County officials point out that the tags will save money and allow teachers to devote less time to attendance paperwork and more time to their students.

The New York Times

Even when "Good Morning America" or CBS's "The Early Show" run the same story, they usually devote less time to it.

The New Yorker

But, more importantly, devote less time to worrying about what's on each other's heads; there are far more pressing issues to think about that affect us all.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Boards are devoting less time to strategy and more to enforcing regulations.

The Economist

Gradually, Essjay found himself devoting less time to editing and more to correcting errors and removing obscenities from the site.

The New Yorker

"I cannot imagine a country with a highly functioning national language that devotes less time to teaching their own language than to teaching a foreign language," she wrote in an e-mail message.

The New York Times - Books

The survey found that 72percentt of Americans said they were devoting less time to volunteering and other civic activities, like providing food and shelter to those in need and participating in public discussions like town-hall-style meetings.

The New York Times

At Number Ten, Alastair Campbell, Mr Blair's official spokesman, is devoting less time to roughing up reporters and more to refining what Labour spin doctors call the "central narrative" that Mr Blair's government will put before voters when it asks them for a second term.This is proving harder than expected.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for efficiency, identify tasks that can be streamlined or delegated to "devote less time" to them, freeing up resources for higher-priority activities.

Common error

Avoid broadly stating you'll "devote less time" without specifying which tasks or activities will be affected. Clear communication requires detailing the specific areas where time will be reduced and the reasons behind these decisions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devote less time" functions as a verb phrase indicating a deliberate reduction in the amount of time allocated to a specific activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is used to show intention to spend less time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "devote less time" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression indicating a deliberate reduction in time allocated to something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. Analysis reveals its prevalence in News & Media and Scientific sources, suggesting a neutral to professional register. Related phrases include "allocate less time" and "spend less time", offering subtle nuances in meaning. When using "devote less time", be specific about which activities are being affected. This ensures clarity and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allocate less time

Replaces "devote" with "allocate", focusing on the assignment of time.

spend less time

Uses "spend" instead of "devote", emphasizing the action of using time.

dedicate less time

Substitutes "devote" with "dedicate", highlighting a formal commitment of time.

give less time

Employs "give" to indicate a reduction in the amount of time offered or dedicated.

limit time spent

Emphasizes the act of "limiting" the time used on something.

cut back on time

Uses "cut back" to suggest a reduction or curtailment of time spent.

reduce time allocation

Rephrases the concept to focus on the "allocation" of time being reduced.

decrease time commitment

Highlights a reduction in the level of "commitment" required in terms of time.

minimize time investment

Frames the activity as an "investment" and aims to "minimize" it.

shorten time frame

Focuses on making the "time frame" shorter for an activity.

FAQs

How can I use "devote less time" in a sentence?

You can use "devote less time" to indicate a conscious effort to reduce the amount of time spent on a particular activity. For example, "I need to "devote less time" to social media and more to my studies."

What are some alternatives to "devote less time"?

Alternatives include "spend less time", "allocate less time", or "give less time", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "devote less time"?

Yes, "devote less time" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to express the idea of reducing the time spent on something.

What is the difference between "devote less time" and "spend less time"?

While both phrases indicate a reduction in time spent, "devote less time" often implies a deliberate reallocation of resources, whereas "spend less time" is a more general expression of reducing the time used for an activity.