increasing the burden

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "increasing the burden" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing situations where additional responsibilities, difficulties, or challenges are being added to someone or something. Example: "The new regulations are increasing the burden on small businesses, making it harder for them to operate efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By then, the population will have climbed further, increasing the burden on the available water supply.

The Guardian

The idea is that developers do not have the right to endanger society by increasing the burden on city drains.

The Guardian

No one who calls themselves a Conservative should have any truck with increasing the burden of Inheritance Tax.

The Guardian

He and his party had opposed increasing the burden on taxpayers and companies for social contributions.

The New York Times

Singles tend to have fewer children, increasing the burden on the young to support an ageing population.

The Economist

The economic crisis and climate change may be making regulators wary of implementing more regulation, for fear of increasing the burden on industry.

The Guardian

To make matters worse, the schools do not provide basic supplies like pencils, pens and paper towels, increasing the burden on families like Ms. Walker's.

The New York Times

"This in turn could result in slower rates of growth of nominal incomes, increasing the burden of existing debts," the Bank of England said.

The Guardian - Business

But every time a mother is lost, the cycle of poverty spins faster, creating a generation of orphans and increasing the burden on the elderly.

The Guardian

If instead inflation falls to 1%, the real interest rate rises from 3% to 4%, increasing the burden of repayment.Asset deflation can do much the same thing.

The Economist

The IMF only grudgingly accepted the ECB's insistence that senior bondholders of Irish banks should be spared, increasing the burden on Irish taxpayers.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "increasing the burden" with specific examples to illustrate exactly how the burden is growing. For example, "Increasing the burden on taxpayers" can be followed by "by raising property taxes and implementing new fees".

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences with "increasing the burden" in the passive voice, which can weaken the impact. Instead of saying "The burden is being increased", use active voice: "The policy is increasing the burden".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increasing the burden" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig examples illustrate its role in describing the action of adding to existing difficulties or responsibilities. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "increasing the burden" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote actions or policies that exacerbate existing difficulties or responsibilities. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, supported by numerous examples across diverse domains like news, science, and formal business. While suitable across a range of registers, it's most prevalent in neutral to formal contexts. When using this phrase, consider avoiding passive voice and providing specific examples to strengthen the impact. Alternatives such as "adding to the strain" or "exacerbating the load" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adding to the strain

Focuses on the stress or pressure being created.

exacerbating the load

Emphasizes the worsening of an existing heavy load.

magnifying the pressure

Highlights the amplification of existing pressure.

heightening the stress

Concentrates on the intensification of stress.

aggravating the weight

Indicates the worsening of a heavy weight or responsibility.

amplifying the difficulty

Stresses the increase in the level of difficulty.

intensifying the demand

Focuses on making existing demands stronger.

escalating the obligation

Highlights the raising of an obligation to a higher level.

augmenting the challenge

Focuses on the increase in the size of the challenge.

worsening the encumbrance

Emphasizes the deterioration of something that hinders or burdens.

FAQs

How can I use "increasing the burden" in a sentence?

You can use "increasing the burden" to describe actions or policies that add extra strain or difficulty. For example: "The new regulations are "increasing the burden" on small businesses".

What are some alternatives to "increasing the burden"?

Alternatives include "adding to the strain", "exacerbating the load", or "magnifying the pressure", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "increase the burden" or "increasing the burden"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have different uses. "Increase the burden" is an imperative or infinitive, while "increasing the burden" is a gerund phrase that can act as a noun. The best choice depends on the context of your sentence.

What's the difference between "increasing the burden" and "reducing the burden"?

"Increasing the burden" implies making something more difficult or onerous, while "reducing the burden" means making something easier or less onerous. They are antonyms representing opposite actions.