lessen the problem

USAGE SUMMARY

"lessen the problem" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to suggest that something should be done to make a problem less severe. For example, "Implementing new safety protocols could help to lessen the problem of workplace accidents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

She says HMRC has made efforts to lessen the problem but ultimately it's bound by the framework of the EU.

The Guardian

The fact that 97% of the group in question don't have a particular problem doesn't lessen the problem for those who do.

The Guardian - Opinion

Rosberg said the indications from practice in Hungary were that the new design of tyre that has been introduced for this race was going to lessen the problem.

BBC

Well, if you're anything like the rest of us, chances are that as soon as you sense that your efforts are beginning to lessen the problem, your motivation to solve the problem altogether dissipates.

Science Magazine

The selection of distance between the borings and CPT holes involved two opposing desires; to minimize the effects of soil failure zones and to lessen the problem of non-homogeneity of tested soil.

International Journal of Geo-Engineering

To lessen the problem, organizers have shifted the schedule so that the outputs of the IPCC runs from the first working group will be released with more time to spare so that the Working Group II researchers can run those climate scenarios in their impacts models.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

If the goal is to lessen the problems caused when a huge population lives outside the law, while protecting civil rights and public safety, then California — home to an estimated 2.5 million undocumented immigrants — is setting a good example.

The New York Times

Most importantly, government needs to stimulate wage growth, as this will lessen the problems of student loan debt much more effectively than will the creation of new legislation to forgive debt or the creation of new bureaucracies for monitoring colleges.

Huffington Post

If you know your choice can lead to something going wrong, plan ahead to lessen the problems in the future.

WikiHow

Many people contend that marijuana lessens the problem.

The New York Times

The mostly bullish stock market of the past five years has lessened the problem of pension funding, says Mark Ruloff, director of asset allocation at pension consultant Watson Wyatt.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lessen the problem", ensure that the context clearly indicates what actions or measures are being taken to reduce the problem's impact or severity.

Common error

Avoid using "lessen the problem" when the issue is completely resolved; instead, reserve it for scenarios where the problem's intensity or impact is merely reduced, not eliminated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lessen the problem" functions as a verb phrase where "lessen" acts as the verb, and "the problem" serves as the direct object. It's used to describe the action of reducing the severity or impact of a specific issue, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lessen the problem" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that effectively conveys the act of reducing the severity or impact of a particular issue. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts. It appears frequently in news media and scientific publications, indicating its versatility. When using the phrase, ensure that the context clarifies how the problem is being reduced and avoid using it when the issue is entirely resolved rather than merely mitigated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lessen the severity

Focuses specifically on reducing the intensity or seriousness of the problem.

alleviate the issue

Replaces "problem" with "issue" and "lessen" with "alleviate", focusing on providing relief.

mitigate the difficulty

Substitutes "problem" with "difficulty" and uses "mitigate" to emphasize reducing the severity.

reduce the impact

Focuses on diminishing the effect of something rather than the problem itself.

minimize the consequences

Highlights reducing the negative outcomes or results of the problem.

ease the burden

Shifts the focus to relieving a load or pressure caused by the problem.

diminish the concern

Replaces "problem" with "concern", suggesting a reduction in worry or anxiety.

curtail the effects

Emphasizes limiting or restricting the consequences of the problem.

ameliorate the situation

Changes "problem" to "situation" and uses "ameliorate" to convey improvement.

moderate the challenge

Replaces "problem" with "challenge" and uses "moderate" to indicate a reduction in intensity.

FAQs

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

You can use "lessen the problem" to describe actions taken to reduce the severity or impact of an issue. For example, "Implementing new policies can "lessen the problem" of employee turnover".

What are some alternatives to "lessen the problem"?

Alternatives include "alleviate the issue", "mitigate the difficulty", or "reduce the impact". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "lessen the problem" or "solve the problem"?

"Lessen the problem" implies a reduction in severity, while "solve the problem" suggests a complete resolution. Use "lessen the problem" when actions only partially address the issue, and "solve the problem" when the issue is entirely eliminated.

What's the difference between "lessen the problem" and "minimize the problem"?

"Lessen the problem" suggests a general reduction in its impact, while "minimize the problem" implies reducing it to the smallest possible degree. "Minimize the problem" suggests focusing on reducing it to the lowest possible level, regardless of reaching a complete solution.