lower the obligation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lower the obligation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the reduction of responsibilities or commitments in various contexts, such as legal, financial, or personal situations. Example: "In order to make the project more manageable, we decided to lower the obligation for each team member."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A debt settlement company will negotiate with the firm that holds the debt on your behalf and will lower the obligation to an amount you can afford.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

That would begin to lower the state's obligation for residents that it has extended health-care coverage to under O'Malley.

The Washington Post

The problems led S.& P. to lower the county's general obligation bond rating to A from AA.

The New York Times

Taking on a powerful Democratic constituency, he readjusted New Jersey's pension formula to lower the state's funding obligations and forced workers, for the first time, to contribute toward their own lifetime health care benefits.

The New York Times - Magazine

But Pfizer's donation of Diflucan to South Africa, to treat some AIDS-related infections, has left the company open to criticism from those who say Pfizer put too many restrictions on how the free drugs are to be used and has a moral obligation to lower the price of the drug over all.

The New York Times

A dependency on obligations and rules can lower the tendency to ask questions or engage in critical inquiry.

Huffington Post

Since there is no contractual obligation to have that recycling value lower the rate, the trash hauler's bottom line was the overwhelming beneficiary, not the ratepayer.

Los Angeles Times

This may be a wrenching process, because the sale of so much real estate could drive property prices lower and the obligation to face up to the problems could force weak banks out of business.

The New York Times

The change lowered the state's pension obligations by more than a billion dollars, which in turn meant smaller contributions.

The New York Times

Moody's Investors Service may reduce the ratings of $5 billion of collateralized debt obligations after lowering the ratings of subprime mortgage bonds that make up the securities.

The New York Times

To take part in the proposed program, lenders would have to lower each debt obligation to 85percentt of the home's current value.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lower the obligation" in financial contexts, ensure you clearly specify which obligation is being reduced and by what means. For example: "The company aimed to lower its tax obligation through strategic investments."

Common error

Avoid using "lower the obligation" without specifying the type of obligation. Vague statements can create confusion; be precise about the specific duty or responsibility being reduced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lower the obligation" functions as a verb phrase, where "lower" acts as a transitive verb and "the obligation" serves as the direct object. It describes the action of reducing or diminishing a specific duty or responsibility. Ludwig examples showcase its use in financial and legal contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lower the obligation" is used to describe the act of reducing a responsibility, duty, or commitment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and usable in English, though relatively rare in occurrence. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it is also used in scientific and encyclopedic writings. To ensure clarity, always specify which obligation is being reduced. Alternatives include "reduce the commitment" or "lessen the responsibility", depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce the commitment

Focuses on diminishing a specific commitment or duty.

lessen the responsibility

Emphasizes reducing the level of accountability or duty.

decrease the liability

Specifically targets the reduction of legal or financial liability.

alleviate the burden

Highlights the easing of a heavy or difficult responsibility.

mitigate the requirement

Focuses on making a necessary action or condition less severe.

diminish the duty

Refers to lessening a moral or legal obligation.

scale down the responsibility

Indicates a reduction in the scope or size of a responsibility.

ease the requirement

Suggests making a necessary action or condition less strict or demanding.

lighten the load

Implies making a burden or responsibility easier to bear.

cut back the commitment

Suggests a reduction in the extent or intensity of a promise or pledge.

FAQs

How can I use "lower the obligation" in a sentence?

You can use "lower the obligation" to describe reducing a duty, responsibility, or commitment. For example: "Debt settlement companies aim to "lower the obligation" for their clients."

What is an alternative to "lower the obligation"?

Alternatives include "reduce the commitment", "lessen the responsibility", or "decrease the liability", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "lower the obligation" in writing?

It is appropriate when you want to convey the idea of decreasing a specific duty or responsibility, especially in financial or legal contexts. Make sure to specify which obligation is being reduced.

Is "lower the obligation" formal or informal language?

"Lower the obligation" is suitable for neutral to formal contexts. In very informal settings, you might opt for phrases like "lighten the load" or "ease the requirement".