lower to zero

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lower to zero" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate a reduction or decrease to the point of being zero. Example: "The company aims to lower its carbon emissions to zero by the year 2030."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The most sensible thing would be to lower to zero all the other risk factors.

The New York Times

The risk is that they might go lower, to zero or slightly higher.

The Guardian - Business

The ECB could decide to lower the lending rate, say to 0.1%, or even lower, to zero, as the OECD recommended earlier this week.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He says there's no "magic number" but nonetheless he's not buying until it falls two points lower to ten.

Forbes

This would be a great idea... if the enrollment age were lowered to zero.

Huffington Post

MEPs want that threshold to be lowered to zero within seven years.

European Parliament

Two years later, the bar was lowered to fourteen.

The New Yorker

By Russell Maloney The New Yorker, February 20 , 1943P. 7 Comment on the possibility of the voting age being lowered to eighteen.

The New Yorker

Before long the ceiling on individual holdings was lowered to five caballerías, and all such holdings became private family farms.

Britannica

Pitchers' mounds in DiMaggio's day were fifteen inches high but in 1969 were lowered to ten inches, to make them more dinger-prone.

The New Yorker

That maximum now had to be lowered to twenty-two feet — a diminution that brought forth the humor in the phrase "Old River Control".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lower to zero" when you want to express a deliberate action aimed at reducing a quantity or value to its absolute minimum.

Common error

Avoid using "lower to zero" in contexts where a complete elimination is impossible or unrealistic. Ensure the action of reducing to zero is logically and practically achievable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lower to zero" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a deliberate action to reduce something to its lowest possible value. Ludwig's examples showcase its application in diverse scenarios such as economics, health, and environmental contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

11%

Wiki

11%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lower to zero" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to express the intent to reduce something to its absolute minimum value. While relatively rare, it's found in various contexts, as noted by Ludwig, including news, science, and formal business settings. It aims to convey a specific objective of complete elimination or reduction, although care should be taken to ensure the feasibility and relevance of such a goal. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is perfectly correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce to nil

Uses 'nil' instead of 'zero', implying a state of nothingness or non-existence.

decrease to nothing

Replaces 'zero' with 'nothing', emphasizing the absence of quantity or value.

diminish to zero

Employs 'diminish' to suggest a gradual reduction to the point of zero.

bring down to zero

Suggests an active effort to lower something to zero.

cut down to zero

Implies a more abrupt or forceful reduction to zero.

eliminate completely

Focuses on the act of removing something entirely, resulting in zero.

nullify completely

Suggests making something ineffective or invalid to the point of being zero.

make equal to zero

Describes the process of setting a value to zero.

push down to zero

implies a forceful intention, to set something to zero

degrade to zero

Suggests a decline in quality or value until reaching zero.

FAQs

What does "lower to zero" mean?

The phrase "lower to zero" means to decrease something to its absolute minimum value, which is zero. This often implies a deliberate effort to eliminate or reduce something entirely.

When is it appropriate to use "lower to zero"?

It's appropriate when discussing strategies or goals aimed at completely eliminating something, such as emissions, risks, or debts. For instance, "The company aims to "reduce emissions to zero" by 2050".

What are some alternatives to "lower to zero"?

You can use alternatives like "reduce to zero", "eliminate completely", or "decrease to nothing" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "lower to zero" grammatically correct?

Yes, "lower to zero" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard structure of a verb followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the target value. According to Ludwig, the phrase is indeed usable in written English.