narrow the gap

USAGE SUMMARY

"narrow the gap" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in a sentence such as: The new policy is intended to narrow the gap between wealthy and poor people.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not narrow the gap, but close it.

The New York Times

Could India plausibly narrow the gap?

Harvard Business Review

"We're just trying to narrow the gap," she said.

The New York Times

I think we will come back and narrow the gap.

The Guardian

"We would like to narrow the gap," he said.

The New York Times

Paul Sykes converted to narrow the gap to six points.

Independent

In druggy sports it may narrow the gap.

The Economist

The managers are trying to narrow the gap.

The New York Times

Safeway, which is based in Pleasanton, Calif., is trimming prices to narrow the gap with discounters.

The New York Times

"Hopefully, we'll have opportunities to get better and narrow the gap".

The New York Times - Sports

The measure was taken to narrow the gap between short and long-term rates.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "narrow the gap", ensure the context clearly defines what two entities or concepts are being brought closer together. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "narrow the gap" without a clear understanding of the underlying causes and potential consequences. Oversimplification can lead to ineffective or even detrimental solutions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrow the gap" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action taken to reduce a disparity or difference. It is commonly used to describe efforts to diminish inequalities or distinctions between groups, concepts, or metrics, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

3%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "narrow the gap" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to convey the reduction of disparities or differences. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. Its usage spans from news and media to scientific and formal business settings, indicating a versatile register. While alternatives like "reduce the difference" or "close the divide" exist, "narrow the gap" remains a prevalent choice for articulating efforts to achieve greater equality or convergence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce the difference

This alternative focuses on diminishing the disparity between two or more things.

decrease the inequality

Directly addresses the reduction of unequal states or conditions.

close the divide

This alternative uses a metaphor of a physical separation to describe the gap.

diminish the gulf

Emphasizes reducing a large separation or difference.

lessen the disparity

Focuses on making the inequality less pronounced.

shrink the breach

Conveys a sense of repairing a rupture or break.

bridge the chasm

Employs stronger imagery, suggesting a significant divide is being overcome.

alleviate the contrast

Highlights the reduction of noticeable differences.

ameliorate the separation

Suggests improving the condition of being separated.

minimize the space

This alternative uses a more literal interpretation of the gap.

FAQs

How can I use "narrow the gap" in a sentence?

You can use "narrow the gap" to describe efforts to reduce disparities or differences between two things. For example, "The company implemented new policies to narrow the gap between men's and women's salaries."

What's an alternative to "narrow the gap"?

Alternatives to "narrow the gap" include phrases like "reduce the difference", "close the divide", or "lessen the disparity".

What does it mean to "narrow the gap" in education?

In education, "narrow the gap" typically refers to efforts to reduce the achievement gap between different groups of students, often based on socioeconomic status or race.

Is it better to say "close the gap" or "narrow the gap"?

Both "close the gap" and "narrow the gap" are acceptable, but "close the gap" implies a complete elimination of the difference, while "narrow the gap" suggests a reduction, but not necessarily total elimination.