lessen the difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

'lessen the difficulty' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it in a sentence like this: "Breaking the task down into smaller components will help to lessen the difficulty of the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

So reducing the entering speed is an effective measure to decrease the possibility of scraping or heading on the barrier, which can also lessen the difficulty in trajectory adjustment.

European Transport Research Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Defined mixtures, which are defined by how they are generated, are source-oriented, and lessen the difficulties by focusing exclusively on a distinct type of real-world mixture, such as emissions from certain sources or source categories.

Environmental Health Perspectives

"Heroin is a physical and emotional painkiller: it lessens the difficulty or sadness of being, of feeling unloved, inadequate, frightened … Addiction is a symptom, not a disease.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, the recent increased availability of high sensitivity mass-spectrometry for peptide identification greatly lessens the difficulty of detecting midasin in semi-purified cell fractions.

BMC Genomics

Extending the statute of limitations will not lessen the inherent difficulty of securing a conviction in a sexual-assault case.

The New Yorker

Transabdominal transanal resection (TATAR) with total mesorectal excision (TME) by laparoscopy tends to lessen the technical difficulties encountered by many surgeons, according to recent reports [ 1, 51].

BMC Gastroenterology

Our tendency is to lessen the intensity of moments of discomfort or difficulty by dropping out or becoming defensive.

Huffington Post

Preventing maltreatment will in turn help to prevent the consequences of maltreatment, such as childhood injury and developmental difficulties, and it will also lessen the case volume at child protection agencies.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

The implications of these findings are that caregivers whose children have more impairment or functional difficulties will require more support services in order to lessen the burden of caregiving.

BMC Pediatrics

Or at least lessen the load.

The Guardian - Opinion

That would lessen the suffering of the people in Gaza.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, consider using "lessen the difficulty" in conjunction with a specific action or method. For example, "Breaking down the project into smaller phases will lessen the difficulty of managing the overall task."

Common error

While "lessen the difficulty" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. More precise and sophisticated alternatives like "mitigate the challenge" or "alleviate the complexity" might be more suitable in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lessen the difficulty" functions primarily as a verb phrase acting to modify a noun, indicating an action that reduces the level of hardship or complexity associated with a task, situation, or process. Ludwig AI confirms its usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

36%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Unknown

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lessen the difficulty" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that aims to describe the action of making something easier or more manageable. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of the phrase. While it's versatile enough for various contexts, more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic writing. Common synonyms include "reduce the difficulty" and "ease the difficulty". It appears frequently in science, news and media and wiki articles. Thus, knowing how to wield it correctly will certainly lessen the difficulty of making yourself understood!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce the difficulty

Replaces "lessen" with "reduce", focusing on decreasing the level of difficulty.

ease the difficulty

Substitutes "lessen" with "ease", suggesting a gentle reduction in difficulty.

alleviate the difficulty

Replaces "lessen" with "alleviate", emphasizing relief from the burden of difficulty.

mitigate the difficulty

Substitutes "lessen" with "mitigate", implying a reduction in the severity of the difficulty.

diminish the difficulty

Replaces "lessen" with "diminish", highlighting a decrease in the magnitude of the difficulty.

simplify the process

Shifts focus from "difficulty" to "process", suggesting making a task easier by simplifying it.

streamline the task

Similar to "simplify the process", but suggests making a task more efficient and less complex.

make it easier

A more general phrase indicating the act of reducing difficulty.

reduce the burden

Shifts focus to reducing the burden or strain caused by the difficulty.

lighten the load

A more figurative expression for reducing the pressure or difficulty.

FAQs

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

You can use "lessen the difficulty" to describe making a task or situation easier, such as "Implementing these new tools should "lessen the difficulty" of data analysis".

What are some alternatives to "lessen the difficulty"?

Some alternatives include "reduce the difficulty", "ease the difficulty", or "alleviate the difficulty", which all convey a similar meaning of making something easier.

Is "lessen the difficulty" formal or informal?

"Lessen the difficulty" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or professional writing.

What is the difference between "lessen the difficulty" and "simplify the process"?

While both phrases aim to make something easier, "lessen the difficulty" focuses on reducing the inherent challenge, whereas "simplify the process" emphasizes making the steps or procedures easier to follow.