laid to reduce

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "laid to reduce" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of words that lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "The budget was laid to reduce unnecessary expenses."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The site (50 m by 50 m) was tilled before planting, weed mat laid to reduce competition from weeds, and trickle irrigation installed (to deal with summer dry periods).

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

The site (50 m by 50 m) was tilled before planting, weed mat laid to reduce competition from weeds, and trickle irrigation installed (to provide water during summer dry periods).

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

The effort to reduce the energy consumption is not confined to the servers only but efforts are also laid to reduce the power that is used to operate cooling systems.

Journal of Cloud Computing: Advances, Systems and Applications

To help ensure the survival of seedlings in the trial plot, weed mat was laid to reduce competition from weeds, trickle irrigation was installed as a precaution against extended dry periods (not required), and wire cages were placed over plants initially to limit browsing damage by hares (Lepus europaeus) and pūkeko (Porphyrio melanotus), a native bird known to pull out small plants.

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

It has been theorized in Spain that males are likely to be the first egg laid to reduce the likelihood of sibling aggression due to the size difference, thus the younger female hatchling is less likely to be killed since it is similar in size to its older sibling.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

For the next twelve years, as Sergio Luzzatto's ingenious history documents, the corpse was displayed, beaten, denigrated, buried, stolen by admirers, recovered, hidden, and finally laid to rest, dramatically reduced by its postmortem adventures.

The New Yorker

Indeed, that's just what the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Protection recommended at the conclusion of our two-and-a-half-year study: phase out the most intensive and inhumane production practices, such as cages to confine laying hens, to reduce risks to public health and improve animal well-being.

Huffington Post

He laid out plans to reduce the number of perks Tesco uses to squeeze extra cash – such as charging for prime shelf space, or in-store advertising.

Independent

Letters are apparently laid out scientifically to reduce the distance thumbs have to travel to hit the next key, with the left-hand thumb able to hit a consonant as soon as the right thumb has typed a vowel.

Independent

Originally, AB32 laid out plans to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial sectors and electricity by 25% by the year 2020 restoring them to 1990 levels.

TechCrunch

The government response to the committee revealed that Highways England, which is responsible for managing motorways and major A roads in England, is to review the spacing of emergency lay-bys to reduce the likelihood of cars stopping in live lanes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "laid to reduce" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and grammatically correct alternatives like "established to lower" or "designed to minimize".

Common error

The verb "laid" implies a placement or arrangement, which doesn't logically connect with the action of reducing. Using a verb that directly indicates purpose or intention, such as "established" or "designed", provides a more accurate and understandable construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "laid to reduce" functions as a purpose connector, attempting to link an action (laying something) with an intended outcome (reduction). However, the verb choice makes the phrase grammatically unsound, as noted by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "laid to reduce" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. While the intent is understandable – to express an action taken with the purpose of decreasing something – the verb choice makes it awkward and unclear. As Ludwig AI points out, better alternatives include "established to lower", "designed to minimize", or other phrases that directly express purpose. The few examples found across science, news media, and wiki sources don't validate the phrase's correctness, making it best to avoid in formal or professional writing. Remember to use grammatically sound phrases for clarity and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

established to lower

Focuses on setting up a system or process with the specific aim of reducing something.

intended to lessen

Emphasizes the intention behind an action to make something less intense or severe.

implemented to decrease

Replaces 'laid' with 'implemented' focusing on the action of putting something into effect to achieve a reduction.

designed to minimize

Shifts from 'laid' to 'designed' emphasizing the planning aspect with the goal of reducing something to the smallest possible amount.

set up to mitigate

Focuses on the establishment of something with the purpose of lessening the severity of a problem or risk.

created to alleviate

Highlights the purpose of relieving or easing a burden, problem, or symptom.

formulated to curb

Highlights the action of creating a plan or strategy with the objective of restraining or controlling something.

developed to diminish

Emphasizes the gradual reduction or weakening of something over time.

arranged to cut down

Highlights the action of making arrangements specifically to reduce the amount or size of something.

organized to suppress

Emphasizes the structure or order implemented to restrain or prevent something from developing or expressing itself.

FAQs

Is "laid to reduce" grammatically correct?

No, "laid to reduce" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "established to lower" or "designed to minimize".

What can I use instead of "laid to reduce"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "implemented to decrease", "intended to lessen", or "created to alleviate".

What does "laid to reduce" mean?

While not grammatically sound, the intended meaning is likely something was put in place or planned to decrease or lessen something else. It's better to rephrase for clarity, such as "Plans were "set to decrease" expenses".

Why is "laid to reduce" considered incorrect?

The verb "laid" doesn't logically connect with the action of reducing. A more appropriate verb would directly express the purpose or intention of the action, making phrases like "established to lower" grammatically sound.