lower the risk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'lower the risk' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it any time you want to express a decrease in potential risk or danger. For example: "The safety procedures in place will help to lower the risk of an accident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

The more activities, the lower the risk.

The New York Times - Health

It's another check to help lower the risk.

The New York Times

The more distant the relative, the lower the risk.

The New York Times

The two books stress safety with exercises that lower the risk of injury and exhaustion.

The New York Times - Health

The results support theories that treating depression with drugs can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The New York Times - Health

(A glass or two a day may lower the risk of heart disease).

The New York Times

That might lower the risk of getting infected - or the chances of getting security upgrades.

The Guardian - Tech

Healthy lifestyles also lower the risk of diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

The New York Times

This in turn would lower the risk of recipients of housing allowance falling into rent arrears.

The Guardian

Statins like Lipitor have proved in studies to significantly lower the risk of heart attack.

The New York Times

And for men, finasteride has been shown to lower the risk of prostate cancer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lower the risk" when discussing preventative measures or actions designed to reduce the likelihood or impact of a negative outcome.

Common error

Don't assume that "lower the risk" implies complete elimination. Clarify the extent of risk reduction to avoid misleading your audience. Lowering the risk to near zero is possible, but not always achieved or even implied.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lower the risk" functions as a verb phrase, specifically an action phrase. It describes the act of diminishing the probability or severity of a potential undesirable outcome. The Ludwig AI confirms the validity and provides numerous examples of its use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lower the risk" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression signifying the act of reducing potential harm or negative outcomes. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans various contexts, predominantly within news and scientific domains, indicating a generally neutral register. When using this phrase, be mindful of quantifying the extent of risk reduction and avoiding the implication of complete elimination. Consider using alternative phrases like "reduce the risk" or "mitigate the risk" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce the risk

Uses "reduce" instead of "lower", a direct synonym with similar connotations.

decrease the risk

Similar to "reduce", but with a slightly different nuance of lessening the overall impact.

lessen the risk

Emphasizes making the risk smaller or weaker.

minimize the risk

Emphasizes reducing the risk to the smallest possible amount.

diminish the risk

Implies a gradual reduction in the size or importance of the risk.

mitigate the risk

A more formal term suggesting active steps to lessen the severity of the risk.

curtail the risk

Suggests limiting or restricting the risk to prevent it from increasing.

alleviate the risk

Focuses on relieving or easing the burden associated with the risk.

temper the risk

To moderate or balance the risk to make it more manageable.

attenuate the risk

Reduce the force, effect, or value of the risk.

FAQs

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

You can use "lower the risk" to describe actions that reduce the possibility of something negative happening. For example, "Wearing a helmet will "lower the risk" of head injury".

What are some alternatives to "lower the risk"?

Some alternatives to "lower the risk" include "reduce the risk", "minimize the risk", or "mitigate the risk", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "lessen the risk" instead of "lower the risk"?

Yes, "lessen the risk" is a valid and semantically similar alternative to ""lower the risk"". Both phrases convey the idea of reducing or diminishing the potential for something negative to occur.

What's the difference between "lower the risk" and "eliminate the risk"?

"Lower the risk" implies a reduction in the likelihood or severity of a potential negative outcome, while "eliminate the risk" means completely removing any possibility of that outcome occurring. Eliminating the risk is a stronger and often more difficult goal to achieve.