lessen it

USAGE SUMMARY

'lessen it' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in the sense of making something less (in amount, intensity, or degree) or reducing it. For example: "I know the workload it too much, so let's try to lessen it as much as possible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

"They won't avoid it, but they can lessen it.

The New York Times

That helped to divert anger, if not to lessen it.

The Economist

The punishment would be determined by a separate committee that could decide to increase or lessen it.

The Guardian

Not because I thought it was wrong, but because I worried the situation in Iraq was so out of control our extra forces might only exacerbate the violence, not lessen it," she said.

The Guardian

A spokeswoman said the Department of Education is "mindful of the anxiety that can accompany test-taking" and that teachers, principals and others would "do everything possible to lessen it and provide support".

The New York Times

Not because I thought it was wrong, but because I worried the situation in Iraq was so out of control our extra forces might only exacerbate the violence, not lessen it".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

More often, it lessened it.

The New York Times

The gap in wealth between races has not lessened, it's grown.

The New York Times

"I think increasing the pressure is better than lessening it," Torre said.

The New York Times - Sports

And they love to propose strategies for lessening it: affirmative action, the celebration of diversity, the promotion of a culture of respect.

The New York Times

So they built ever more tools to give apps access to users' attention, instead of lessening it.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, use "lessen it" to convey a reduction in intensity, amount, or degree, especially when discussing abstract concepts like anxiety or impact.

Common error

While "lessen it" is acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "mitigate it" or "alleviate it" in academic or professional writing to maintain a higher register.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lessen it" functions primarily as a verb phrase where "lessen" acts as a transitive verb, taking "it" as its direct object. Ludwig examples confirm its use in describing the action of reducing or diminishing something. The phrase requires an object to complete its meaning.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

27%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lessen it" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for reducing the intensity, amount, or degree of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is generally correct and usable in written English. While versatile, it's crucial to consider the context and audience; more formal alternatives might be suitable for academic or professional writing. The phrase is frequently found in news and media, Wiki, and scientific sources, making it a valuable addition to one's vocabulary for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce it

Emphasizes a decrease in quantity or size; a direct synonym.

diminish it

Highlights a gradual reduction in size, importance, or intensity.

decrease it

Focuses on making something smaller in amount or degree.

mitigate it

Suggests alleviating the severity or impact of something negative.

alleviate it

Implies providing relief from suffering, difficulty, or hardship.

lighten it

Highlights making something less heavy, burdensome, or serious.

relieve it

Indicates easing pain, distress, or pressure.

weaken it

Focuses on reducing strength or effectiveness.

curtail it

Emphasizes restricting or cutting something short.

soften it

Indicates making something less harsh, severe, or intense.

FAQs

What does "lessen it" mean?

"Lessen it" means to reduce something in size, amount, degree, or intensity. It implies making something smaller or weaker.

What can I say instead of "lessen it"?

You can use alternatives like "reduce it", "diminish it", or "alleviate it" depending on the context.

Is "lessen it" formal or informal?

"Lessen it" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in various contexts. However, in very formal writing, alternatives like "mitigate it" might be preferred.

How to use "lessen it" in a sentence?

You can use "lessen it" to describe efforts to reduce something negative, such as "They hoped that the new policy would lessen the impact of the economic downturn."