pare back

USAGE SUMMARY

"pare back" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to reduce or cut down on something, often in a gradual or controlled manner. Example: "In order to meet our budget, we will have to pare back our expenses on non-essential items."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Where to pare back?

The New Yorker

And local governments continue to pare back.

The New York Times

Next, pare back the mission objectives.

The Guardian

It was a real challenge to pare back my food.

Independent

But it would first try to pare back his powers.

The Economist

So I was trying to pare back even more than I normally try.

The New Yorker

The Senate needs to pare back the exemptions in the existing bill, not add more.

The New York Times

They consistently pressured the leadership and the spending committees to pare back outlays.

The New York Times

The recession caused many companies to pare back the number of consultants they retain.

The New York Times - Magazine

The Obama Administration begins to pare back its plan to regulate the financial system.

The New Yorker

In Southern Europe, the pressure to pare back universal welfare systems is intense.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pare back" when you want to emphasize a controlled or strategic reduction, rather than a complete elimination or drastic cut.

Common error

While "pare back" is widely accepted, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "cut back" or "reduce" when speaking with friends or family.

Linguistic Context

Pare back functions as a phrasal verb, primarily used to describe the action of reducing something, often in a strategic or controlled manner. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pare back" is a phrasal verb meaning to reduce or cut down on something, often in a gradual or controlled manner. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, with a very common frequency across various contexts, especially in News & Media. While generally neutral to professional in tone, it's best used when emphasizing a strategic reduction. Remember to consider simpler alternatives like "cut back" or "reduce" in more informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cut back

Focuses on reducing the quantity or amount of something.

scale down

Suggests reducing the size or scope of an operation or project.

trim down

Implies removing unnecessary parts or elements to make something more efficient.

reduce

A general term for making something smaller or less.

decrease

Similar to reduce, but often used in more formal contexts.

diminish

Suggests a gradual reduction in size, importance, or intensity.

curtail

Implies restricting or limiting something, often abruptly.

downsize

Specifically refers to reducing the size of a company or organization, often through layoffs.

retrench

Indicates a withdrawal or reduction of resources or activities, often due to financial difficulties.

roll back

Signifies reversing a policy or decision to a previous state.

FAQs

How can I use "pare back" in a sentence?

You can use "pare back" to describe reducing expenses, efforts, or resources. For example: "The company decided to pare back its marketing budget" or "We need to pare back our spending to meet our financial goals".

What are some alternatives to "pare back"?

You can use alternatives like "cut back", "scale down", or "reduce" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "pare back" or "cut back"?

Both "pare back" and "cut back" are acceptable. "Pare back" suggests a more careful and strategic reduction, while "cut back" is a more general term for reducing something.

What's the difference between "pare back" and "downsize"?

"Pare back" generally refers to reducing something in a controlled way, while "downsize" typically refers to reducing the size of a company or organization, often through layoffs.