make less use of

USAGE SUMMARY

"make less use of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to decrease or reduce the amount of usage of something. Example: Many people are trying to make less use of plastic bags in order to help the environment. In this sentence, "make less use of" is used to describe the action of decreasing the amount of usage of plastic bags.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

US forces have already had to make less use of helicopters, which are vulnerable to ground fire at close range.

The Guardian

But the young make less use of their vote than the old.

The Economist

Mr. Powell also agreed to make less use of a so-called diversity index, a tool his staff had developed to measure whether a city has a diverse-enough range of media outlets to permit further ownership concentration.

The New York Times

Evidence shows that, when patients share in making clinical decisions and are encouraged to manage their own conditions and look after themselves, not only does their health improve but they also make less use of health services.

Independent

And with unwanted pregnancy no longer a concern, couples may make less use of condoms, a problem addressed by a British public health campaign aimed at what it calls the Middle-Age Spread.

The New York Times

Though his solo playing may make less use of so-called extended techniques than his combo playing does — the Village Vanguard engagement at which he played the piano's strings was a trio date — it will probably be no more predictable.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Lloyds said it would achieve many of the job cuts through making less use of contractors and voluntary severance but admitted that some compulsory redundancies may be inevitable.

The Guardian - Business

The reliance on written source material within the Swedish team reflected the dominant approach amongst historians who made less use of map and landscape evidence than others.

Journal of Historical Geography

German law makes less use of prescription and implication of servitudes than does Anglo-American law, probably because of its reliance on the Grundbuch.

Encyclopedia Britannica

DERA research staff found that when firms were the subject of financial reporting-related enforcement actions, they made less use of an LDA-identified topic related to performance discussion.

Columbia University

The other premise is that the nation could sharply reduce the growth of health care spending if doctors made less use of aggressive treatments that raise costs but do not result in better outcomes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, specify what you want to "make less use of". Vague statements can lead to misinterpretation. For example, instead of saying "We should make less use of resources", specify "We should make less use of fossil fuels".

Common error

Remember that "less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., water, time), while "fewer" is for countable nouns (e.g., cars, people). Saying "make less use of cars" is grammatically incorrect; it should be "make fewer uses of cars" or "reduce car usage".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make less use of" functions as a verb phrase indicating a conscious effort to reduce the frequency or extent of using something. As Ludwig confirms, it expresses a deliberate action to decrease reliance on a particular resource, method, or service. For instance, "US forces have already had to make less use of helicopters" demonstrates a reduction in operational reliance due to external factors.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

47%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make less use of" is a versatile verb phrase that effectively conveys a reduction in the utilization of something. Ludwig confirms it’s grammatically sound and commonly used across various domains, including news, science, and academia. To ensure clarity, specify what you are aiming to reduce using; for instance, instead of saying "We should make less use of resources", clarify with "We should make less use of fossil fuels". Remember to use "fewer" instead of "less" when referring to countable nouns. By following these tips, you can confidently incorporate "make less use of" into your writing and communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce utilization of

Replaces "make use of" with "utilization", adding a more formal tone.

decrease the usage of

Substitutes "make less" with "decrease", focusing on reducing the quantity of use.

minimize the use of

Emphasizes reducing use to the smallest possible amount.

curtail the application of

Uses more formal vocabulary like "curtail" and "application".

limit the employment of

Replaces "use" with "employment", adding a formal tone and suggesting a purposeful action.

cut back on the use of

Emphasizes a reduction in use, implying a previous pattern of higher usage.

scale down the use of

Suggests a gradual reduction in the amount of usage.

employ sparingly

Focuses on using something with caution and in small amounts.

moderate the consumption of

Focuses on a measured reduction, particularly suitable when referring to resources.

rely less on

Indicates a shift away from dependence on something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "make less use of" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "reduce utilization of", "decrease the usage of", or "curtail the application of" depending on the context.

What's a simpler way to say "make less use of"?

You can use alternatives such as "rely less on", "cut back on the use of", or "scale down the use of" for a more straightforward expression.

Is it always correct to use "make less use of" in sentences?

While generally correct, ensure that the noun you are referring to is appropriate for "less". For countable items, consider using "make fewer uses of" instead or restructure the sentence.

What's the difference between "make less use of" and "make minimal use of"?

"Make less use of" implies a reduction in usage, whereas "make minimal use of" suggests using something as little as possible from the outset.