in lessening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in lessening" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of reducing or diminishing something, often in a context related to impact or severity. Example: "The new policy has been effective in lessening the environmental impact of our operations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Are we making improvements in lessening dependence on oil?

The New York Times

"We have made significant progress in lessening the load for these caseworkers who have very difficult jobs," Mr. Bush said.

The New York Times

Iran's "charm offensive" in the GCC had succeeded in lessening suspicions of some officials about the true intentions of Iranian policies.

The Guardian

Food stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, the tax exemption for employer-provided health insurance – all of these are major factors in lessening inequality.

The New York Times

Since the publication of Sybil, One Nation Toryism has been taken to mean a support for liberal paternalism and a vague interest in lessening class divisions.

The Guardian

JM: The points we make about Walmart in our book were given as examples of a very large, traditional company making progress in lessening its negative environmental impact.

The Guardian

Add the decrease in unwanted products ending up in landfill and collaborative consumption will have a role in lessening our collective impact on the planet.

The Guardian

Even if Mr. Obama is successful in lessening the terrorist threat in the region, many analysts say that Al Qaeda has changed into a transnational movement beyond Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The New York Times

Secondly, he points out that a homosexual who knows that while he acts discreetly he is not liable to prosecution loses a strong motive for seeking medical or other assistance in lessening his desires or strengthening his resistance to it.

The Guardian

They helped me get through those difficult periods then and I really think they will now too, not by changing my personality but in lessening the despair that sometimes comes when I have no energy.

The Guardian

Compared with her primary rivals, Clinton provokes ambivalent, sometimes negative, reactions; but if Clinton it must be, few of her rivals' supporters will want to be complicit in lessening her chances of winning next November.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in lessening", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being reduced or diminished. For example, "in lessening the impact" or "in lessening the burden".

Common error

Avoid using "in lessening" in overly complex sentences where simpler alternatives like "reducing" or "decreasing" would improve clarity. Overcomplicating sentence structure can obscure the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "in lessening" is to act as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating the means or method by which something is being reduced. Ludwig AI affirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in lessening" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed prepositional phrase, primarily used to describe the action of reducing or diminishing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. While alternatives like "in reducing" or "in mitigating" exist, "in lessening" offers a nuanced way to express gradual reduction. The key to effective usage lies in ensuring contextual clarity and avoiding overuse in complex sentence structures. Overall, it is a valuable phrase for conveying efforts to mitigate negative impacts and alleviate problems.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in reducing

Focuses specifically on the act of making something smaller or less.

in mitigating

Implies making something less severe, serious, or painful.

in alleviating

Highlights the easing of pain, suffering, or hardship.

in diminishing

Suggests a gradual decrease in size, importance, or intensity.

in decreasing

Emphasizes the process of becoming smaller or fewer in number.

in easing

Highlights the process of making something less difficult or tense.

in curbing

Suggests restraining or controlling something undesirable.

in weakening

Focuses on reducing the strength or power of something.

in curtailing

Implies cutting short or restricting something.

in minimizing

Focuses on reducing something to the smallest possible amount or degree.

FAQs

How can I use "in lessening" in a sentence?

Use "in lessening" to describe an action that reduces something, such as "The new policy is aimed "at lessening" the environmental impact".

What are some alternatives to using "in lessening"?

Alternatives include phrases like "in reducing", "in mitigating", or "in decreasing", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between using "in lessening" and "in reducing"?

While similar, "in lessening" can sometimes imply a more gradual or subtle reduction compared to "in reducing". The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Which prepositions can be used with "lessening"?

The preposition "in" is commonly used with "lessening", but you can also use other prepositions depending on the sentence structure. However, "in lessening" is a very common and well-accepted phrase.