lessen by one

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lessen by one" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a reduction in quantity or amount, specifically indicating that something is decreased by a single unit. Example: "If you subtract two from five, you will lessen the total by one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The supply has been lessened by one potential guy, and presumably the demand remains the same".

The New York Times - Sports

Would that make the conflict of interest disappear, or would it just lessen it by one remove (Chelsea, after all, would still be the daughter of the sitting president).

Huffington Post

If you take one of them within 48 hours of becoming ill, the drug can lessen symptoms and shorten the illness by one or two days.

The Washington Post

Given that time variation pattern of age and time trend are similar (one-by-one linear increase) one could think that the within transformation would lessen the identification power of age against a simple time trend described above.

SERIEs

The individual, privately weakened by age but not obviously lessened by it, would one day be attacked by some disease from which he would not recover; he would die without having suffered any degradation.

The Guardian

All of the noises that are affecting the system are analyzed one by one, and preventive measures have been taken to lessen their effect as much as possible.

Robotics and Biomimetics

Diversifying a 401(k) portfolio by spreading money among, say, six to eight investment options will lessen the chance that the entire account will be dragged down by one laggard, experts said.

Los Angeles Times

Etched in acid and often hilarious, the performance, while not wholly modeled on Ms. Wintour, helped humanize her public profile, lessening the sting of the original book, a roman à clef by one of her former assistants, Lauren Weisberger.

The New York Times

This effect is lessened if one uses a stricter significance level.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The ACCC called for greater transparency of gas contracts and consideration of whether joint marketing by one of the largest suppliers, the Gippsland Basin joint venture, had substantially lessened competition.

The Guardian

The lack of competition in gas supply even warrants consideration of whether joint marketing by one of the largest suppliers, the Gippsland Basin joint venture between Esso Australia and BHP Billiton Petroleum, has substantially lessened competition.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lessen by one" to clearly indicate a reduction of exactly one unit, especially when precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "lessen by one" when the intended meaning is a general decrease, not specifically a decrease of one. Use it precisely to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lessen by one" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a specific action of reducing something by a single unit. According to Ludwig, this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English. Examples in Ludwig demonstrate its application in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lessen by one" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a specific reduction of a single unit. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for various contexts but requires careful application to ensure clarity. While alternatives like "reduce by one" or "decrease by one" offer similar meanings, the key is to maintain precision and avoid using the phrase when a general reduction is intended. The most authoritative sources using this phrase include The New York Times and The Guardian, reflecting its acceptance in professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce by one

Uses "reduce" instead of "lessen", maintaining the same meaning of decreasing by a single unit.

decrease by one

Substitutes "lessen" with "decrease", offering a synonymous way to express the reduction by one.

diminish by one

Replaces "lessen" with "diminish", providing a more formal alternative for reducing by a single unit.

subtract one from

Reformulates the phrase to focus on the act of subtraction, explicitly stating that one is being taken away.

take away one

Emphasizes the removal of one unit, offering a more direct and informal alternative.

lower by one

Uses "lower" to indicate a reduction in value or quantity by one.

decline by one

Suggests a decrease in a measured quantity or statistic by one.

drop by one

Implies a sudden or noticeable reduction of one unit.

fall by one

Similar to "drop by one", indicating a decrease, often in numerical data, by one.

go down by one

A more conversational way to describe a reduction by a single unit.

FAQs

How can I use "lessen by one" in a sentence?

You can use "lessen by one" to describe a reduction of exactly one unit from a total. For example, "If you subtract two from five, you will lessen the total "by one"."

What are some alternatives to "lessen by one"?

Alternatives include "reduce by one", "decrease by one", or "subtract one from", depending on the specific context.

Is "lessen by one" formal or informal?

"Lessen by one" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal settings might prefer alternatives like "diminish by one".

When should I avoid using "lessen by one"?

Avoid using "lessen by one" if you intend to convey a general reduction or decrease that is not necessarily limited to a single unit. In such cases, simply use "lessen" or other similar terms.