lighten the burden

USAGE SUMMARY

"lighten the burden" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe any situation in which someone is feeling overwhelmed or overburdened. For example, you could say, "I want to help you lighten the burden by offering to do some of the work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hereafter, presumption is to lighten the burden of the prosecutor.

Cornell University

Have a support network in place that can lighten the burden.

Cornell University

Blattmachr's treasure maps do more than just lighten the burden of taxes for his clients.

The New York Times - Magazine

Federal tax credits and various tax-advantaged prepayment plans can lighten the burden further.

The New York Times

Congress has worked to lighten the burden, recently passing measures to encourage investment into preparation plans.

The Guardian

The SEC should also try to lighten the burden on them too.

The Economist

To lighten the burden of numerical computation work, a free-simulator approach was proposed in this work.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

To lighten the burden imposed on the designer, we developed an initial hull structural modeling system in our previous study.

Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing

Ali argues that Congress originally enacted the FTCA to lighten the burden of investigating, adjudicating, and settling such claims.

Cornell University

Increasing the size of the active-duty military would lighten the burden on every soldier, sailor, airman and marine.

The New York Times

But, anyway, I can lighten the burden of others by showing them around, and that's payment enough.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lighten the burden" to discuss systematic changes or solutions aimed at reducing long-term difficulties for individuals or groups.

Common error

Avoid using "lighten the burden" to describe temporary or superficial assistance. This phrase implies a significant and lasting reduction in difficulty, not just a quick fix.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lighten the burden" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a transitive verb construction where it acts upon a noun representing a difficulty, responsibility, or stress. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

27%

Science

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lighten the burden" is a versatile and commonly used phrase that effectively conveys the idea of alleviating difficulties or responsibilities. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and applicable in various contexts, including news, academia, and science. While alternatives like "ease the load" and "reduce the stress" exist, understanding the specific context ensures the most appropriate choice. Remember to use this phrase when referring to significant and lasting reductions in difficulty, and not for temporary or superficial aid.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

alleviate the pressure

Focuses on reducing the feeling of stress or strain, similar to "lighten the burden" but more specific to emotional or psychological weight.

ease the load

Uses a more metaphorical term ("load") to represent burden, implying a reduction in the weight or difficulty faced.

reduce the stress

Specifically targets the emotional or mental strain, offering a way to "lighten the burden" by mitigating stress.

mitigate the strain

Offers a more formal and impactful way to "lighten the burden" by lessening the adverse effects of pressure or exertion.

lessen the load

Directly addresses the reduction of a heavy task or responsibility, mirroring the action of "lighten the burden".

relieve the strain

Suggests a removal of tension or pressure, effectively "lightening the burden" by providing relief.

soften the impact

Focuses on reducing the negative consequences or effects of a situation, contributing to "lightening the burden".

take some weight off

A more colloquial expression meaning to remove some of the pressure or responsibility from someone.

make things easier

A general expression for simplifying a situation, which can "lighten the burden" by removing obstacles.

give a helping hand

Implies providing assistance to make a task easier, indirectly "lightening the burden" through support.

FAQs

How can I use "lighten the burden" in a sentence?

You can use "lighten the burden" to describe actions that alleviate difficulty or responsibility. For example, "The new policy aims to "lighten the burden" on small businesses".

What can I say instead of "lighten the burden"?

You can use alternatives like "ease the load", "alleviate the pressure", or "reduce the stress" depending on the context.

Is "lighten the burden" formal or informal?

"Lighten the burden" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the communication.

What's the difference between ""lighten the burden"" and "reduce the burden"?

While similar, ""lighten the burden"" often suggests making something subjectively feel easier, whereas "reduce the burden" implies a measurable decrease in the amount or intensity of something.