lessening to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lessening to" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear what context you intend to use it in, as "lessening" typically requires a direct object or a different preposition. Example: "The noise is lessening."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Sensing that the political threat was lessening to the plans for closing the budget deficit and avoiding default, investors bid up Argentine stock and bond prices.

The New York Times

African oil already provides 15% of American imports; that is likely to rise to 25% by 2015, lessening to a degree dependence on supplies from the troubled Persian Gulf.In this section Solving GE's big problem All over?

The Economist

We do think that that is lessening to some degree, both in response to the very successful improvement in cooperation between Nigeria and Chad; but also because Buhari has clearly signalled that he wants to cooperate with his neighbours; and one of his first trips after he was sworn in was to the regional states to try to improve this cooperation.

The Guardian

The system later struck Hainan Island with winds of 85 km/h (50 mph) before lessening to a tropical depression.

Wikipedia

RUT had a negative predictive value of 92% when standard thresholds were used, lessening to 84% with reduced thresholds.

BMC Infectious Diseases

The pilots would take a 23percentt cut in the first year, with that lessening to 17percentt in the second year.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The terror lessened to a milder sense of dread.

The New Yorker

On Mount Hamilton, when the grade lessened to a mere 4percentt, it felt almost like riding on flat ground.

The New York Times - Sports

For key transfers that exhibit signed values, the key space can be lessened to identify the session key in use.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Eventually he teamed up with other college graduates, Joe Oeschger and Stan Baumgartner and the hazing lessened to a degree.

Wikipedia

Rehydration and supportive care may lessen to severity of the disease.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "lessening to" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "reducing to" or "decreasing to" to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Common error

The preposition "to" typically requires a noun or pronoun as its object. Using "to" after "lessening" without a clear connection to a following noun creates a grammatically unsound phrase. Instead, consider using alternatives like "lessening the impact of", or use other alternatives with similar meaning but correct form such as "decreasing to" or "reducing to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lessening to" attempts to function as a verb phrase indicating a reduction or decrease leading to a specific state. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the structure is grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "lessening to" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically questionable. It's intended to convey a reduction or decrease to a specific level, but its structural issues make it less suitable for formal writing. Instead, consider using alternatives like "reducing to" or "decreasing to" to ensure clarity and accuracy. The phrase is rare but occurs in news, science and wiki contexts. Given its problematic grammatical status, careful consideration should be given to alternative phrasings in order to sound more natural.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreasing to

This alternative emphasizes a gradual reduction, similar to "lessening to" but with a more standard grammatical structure.

reducing to

Focuses on the action of making something smaller, similar to "lessening to" but with a correct grammatical structure.

diminishing to

Implies a gradual fading or weakening, akin to "lessening to" in its sense of decline.

easing to

Suggests a gradual reduction in intensity or pressure, offering a gentler connotation than "lessening to".

declining to

Emphasizes a downward trend or decrease, comparable to "lessening to" in portraying a reduction.

abating to

Suggests a reduction in intensity or severity, similar to "lessening to" but potentially implying a more temporary change.

subsiding to

Implies a calming down or settling, akin to "lessening to" in its sense of diminishing intensity.

weakening to

Focuses on the loss of strength or power, comparable to "lessening to" in portraying a reduction in force.

evolving to

Focuses on a more gradual change of some kind.

transitioning to

Focuses on a more gradual change of some kind.

FAQs

Is "lessening to" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "lessening to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. A more appropriate phrasing would be "reducing to" or "decreasing to".

What are some alternatives to "lessening to"?

Alternatives include "reducing to", "decreasing to", "diminishing to", or "easing to", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "lessening to"?

Given its grammatical issues, it's generally best to avoid using "lessening to" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives.

What is the difference between "lessening to" and "reducing to"?

While both phrases imply a decrease, "lessening to" is not grammatically correct. "Reducing to" is the grammatically sound choice and is acceptable in formal writing.