lessen the gap

USAGE SUMMARY

"lessen the gap" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a physical or abstract gap or gap between two things that you want to reduce or make smaller. For example: "The government is introducing a new program to help lessen the gap between the wealthy and the poor."

✓ Grammatically correct

Economics

Construction

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

There was also a conviction that economic planning was needed to lessen the gap between the rich and poor countries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They should say that Trump failed to deliver and then propose their own policies that promote growth, invest in workers, repair infrastructure and lessen the gap between rich and poor.

The Washington Post

The objective of the present study is to attain better understanding of the curing mechanism of FBMs and lessen the gap between laboratory curing and field evolution of these mixtures.

Construction and Building Materials

"Without some way to lessen the gap between the end of the [air warfare destroyer] program and the start of the building of the future frigate, the industrial base will have to ramp up its workforce from an almost negligible level to 2,700 skilled personnel in approximately eight years".

The Guardian

Interest in the less-developed countries returned in the later decades of the 20th century, especially as economists recognized their long neglect of Adam Smith's "inquiry into the causes of the wealth of nations". There was also a conviction that economic planning was needed to lessen the gap between the rich and poor countries.

Britannica

But transitioning more fans to paid subscription services could lessen the gap.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Washington DC mayor Muriel Bowser was looking for inspiration to solve what must be the biggest challenge for all the mayors in the room – "to lessen the gaps between the haves and the have-nots".

Independent

Jones disputes the claim that the education law has lessened the gap between white and Asian students and everyone else.

The Washington Post

The focal rationale was that in the long run, inter-Korean trade could sow the seeds for fundamental change in North Korea, all the while lessening the gap between the two Koreas.

Stanford University

A cornerstone of Bo's Chongqing model was a series of egalitarian social policies aimed at lessening the gap between rich and poor and easing the rural-urban divide.

Wikipedia

The struggle to lessen the pay gap between men and women has been ongoing for decades.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In discussions about socioeconomic disparities, use "lessen the gap" to emphasize policies or initiatives designed to reduce inequality, ensuring your proposals are specific and measurable.

Common error

Avoid using "lessen the gap" when the actions taken only have a minimal effect. It's more accurate to say "begin to address" or "slightly reduce" if the changes are incremental rather than significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lessen the gap" functions as a verb phrase that describes an action taken to reduce a difference or disparity. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. It is usually followed by the objects that define the gap (e.g., "lessen the gap between...").

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lessen the gap" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for indicating the reduction of a difference or disparity. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its validity. While not overly frequent, it appears commonly in News & Media contexts, as well as in Wiki and Scientific sources. Its neutral register makes it versatile for various communication purposes. When using "lessen the gap", ensure your actions truly reduce the difference and avoid overstating the impact. Alternatives like "reduce the disparity" or "bridge the gap" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce the disparity

Focuses on reducing the inequality or imbalance between two things.

narrow the divide

Emphasizes bringing two separated entities closer together.

bridge the gap

Suggests creating a connection or pathway across a divide.

close the gap

Indicates a more complete or final reduction of the difference.

alleviate the difference

Focuses on making the difference less severe or problematic.

minimize the discrepancy

Highlights reducing inconsistencies or disagreements.

decrease the space

Emphasizes diminishing the physical or metaphorical distance.

shrink the margin

Specifically refers to reducing a quantitative difference or advantage.

ameliorate the inequality

Highlights improving fairness and justice by reducing disparities.

mitigate the imbalance

Suggests reducing the negative effects of an uneven distribution.

FAQs

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

You can use "lessen the gap" to describe efforts to reduce any kind of disparity or difference. For example, "The new education program aims to "lessen the gap" between students from low-income and high-income families".

What's a more formal way to say "lessen the gap"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases such as "mitigate the disparity" or "ameliorate the inequality" to convey a similar meaning with a higher degree of formality.

Is "lessen the gap" interchangeable with "close the gap"?

While similar, ""lessen the gap"" implies a partial reduction, whereas "close the gap" suggests a complete elimination of the difference. The choice depends on the extent of the change you're describing.

What prepositions typically follow "gap" when using "lessen the gap"?

When using ""lessen the gap"", you'll often see prepositions like "between" (e.g., "lessen the gap between rich and poor") or "in" (e.g., "lessen the gap in understanding"). The specific preposition depends on what two things you are comparing.