lessen the ability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lessen the ability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the reduction of someone's or something's capacity or capability to perform a task or function. Example: "The new regulations may lessen the ability of small businesses to compete in the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

Government

Business

Science

Technology

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Finally, large interest obligations lessen the ability of the government to finance other governmental activities.

Britannica

That might lessen the ability of future Congresses to play games of chicken over the debt ceiling.

The New York Times

What better way to mismanage the federal budget in the face of a huge new spending program than to enact tax cuts that lessen the ability of the government to pay for it?

The New York Times

It is understood that a risk assessment carried out within IBM has also identified a potential threat to London's reputation should the changes lessen the ability of staff to deal with problems in the congestion zone IT systems.

The Guardian - Tech

Senator Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat and a staunch supporter of arms control, counters that so long as an effective missile defense does not create more diplomatic problems than it solves, it could lessen the ability of a small, hostile nuclear power to threaten the West with nuclear blackmail.

The New York Times

Although this is considered a 'beyond design basis accidents' (BDBA), it receives high attention because it may lead to graphite oxidation of reflectors and fuel elements so as to weaken the structural strength and lessen the ability of the coated particles to retain fission products.

Annals of Nuclear Energy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

This lessens the ability of the British people to scrutinise the activities of the government and is characteristic of the back-room deals that led to Mr Juncker's appointment".

The Guardian

The global economic crisis has greatly lessened the ability of most countries to set aside the financial resources to support even small basic research projects, let alone large-scale genomics projects.

The Economist

For decades, airline personnel and law enforcement have had wide latitude in prosecuting unruly passengers, not only for assaults or threats but also for any behavior, including arguing, that disrupts a flight or "lessens the ability" of crew members to perform their jobs.

Los Angeles Times

The lack of independence necessitated orthogonal transformation of the data, but these transformations resulted in the loss of information and lessened the ability to associate a discrete phenotype (i.e., a specific Biolog test) to a causative genotype.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

With repeated laser imaging, however, a number of fluorophores in wide use showed susceptibility to photobleaching, thus lessening the ability of fluorescently labeled samples to be archived and repeatedly imaged over time.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lessen the ability", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the reduction in ability and the specific area where the ability is being affected.

Common error

Avoid using "lessen the ability" in vague or abstract contexts. Be specific about whose or what's ability is being lessened and the concrete consequences of this reduction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lessen the ability" functions as a verb phrase that describes the action of reducing someone's or something's capacity or capability. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lessen the ability" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote a reduction in someone's or something's capacity or capability. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in English. It appears across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings, demonstrating its versatility. When employing this phrase, it's beneficial to specify what factors are causing the reduction and its concrete implications. Consider alternatives like ""reduce the capacity"" or ""diminish the capability"" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce the capacity

Replaces "ability" with "capacity", focusing on the potential to do something.

diminish the capability

Substitutes "lessen" with "diminish" and "ability" with "capability", both implying a reduction in effectiveness.

impair the potential

Emphasizes the negative impact on future possibilities.

weaken the power

Highlights the reduction in strength or force.

undermine the competence

Suggests a gradual erosion of skill or expertise.

curtail the faculty

A more formal way to express limiting inherent skills or talents.

restrict the aptitude

Focuses on limiting a natural talent or inclination.

decrease the proficiency

Emphasizes a reduction in skill or expertise gained through training or practice.

hinder the skill

Implies an obstruction or impediment to someone's skill.

reduce effectiveness

Focuses on reducing how effective something is

FAQs

How can I use "lessen the ability" in a sentence?

You can use "lessen the ability" to describe a reduction in someone's or something's capacity to perform a specific action. For example: "The new regulations may "lessen the ability" of small businesses to compete."

What are some alternatives to "lessen the ability"?

Alternatives include "reduce the capacity", "diminish the capability", or "impair the potential" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "lessen the ability" or "reduce the ability"?

Both ""lessen the ability"" and "reduce the ability" are correct. "Reduce" is generally more common, but "lessen" can add a slightly more nuanced meaning of gradual or subtle reduction.

What's the difference between "lessen the ability" and "weaken the ability"?

"Lessen the ability" suggests a decrease in capability or effectiveness, while "weaken the ability" implies making something less strong or resilient. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize a reduction in functionality or a reduction in strength.