pared it down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pared it down" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the act of reducing something to its essential elements or simplifying it. Example: "After reviewing the lengthy report, she pared it down to just the key findings for the presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Over the years he has stripped his voice of that warmth, pared it down to what he considers its essence.

The Guardian - Music

When BC Partners took over Grohe, a bathroom-equipment maker, in 1999, it pared it down to an enterprise with almost no capital.

The Economist

Ox, Jersey City They were going to call their restaurant Babe the Blue Ox, but Nicole Puzio and Edward Radich pared it down to Ox.

The New York Times

After reading a draft of William Henry Harrison's inaugural, cluttered with references to ancient republics, Daniel Webster pared it down, and declared when he was done, "I have killed seventeen Roman pro-consuls as dead as smelts".

The New Yorker

Cohen has pared it down to a few tasty elements: shaved ice, leche flan, ube ice cream (made from purple yam), macapuno (a kind of coconut), and a toasted Filipino sweet rice called pinipig.

The New Yorker

"I looked at the PGCE curriculum that I generally run and I pared it down to what I thought were the essential concepts, and built them up again," says Molly Dussart, a lecturer in science teaching.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Harrison's 3000 lines of code--he wrote much more than that, then pared it down--modify the very guts of Rosetta, allowing scientists to specify pH and calculate the effect of pH on the energies that underlie protein behavior.

Science Magazine

Her aim seems to be to pare it down to its most accessible.

Independent

We've tried to take a unique approach to this by seeing, can using reductionist biology, can we pare it down to its most basic components?

Cornell University

In an interview with ABC News, Mr. Obama indicated he would not give up his signature health care initiative but suggested paring it down to its "core elements".

The New York Times

"Then we started paring it down and paring it down".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pared it down" when you want to emphasize the process of reducing something to its essential elements, often to improve clarity or efficiency.

Common error

While "pared it down" is acceptable, avoid overuse in highly formal contexts. Opt for synonyms like "reduced" or "simplified" to maintain a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pared it down" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of reducing or simplifying something. Ludwig shows examples where it's used to describe reducing a document, a speech, or a process to its essentials.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

25%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pared it down" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of reducing or simplifying something to its essential elements. Ludwig shows that while it's suitable for various contexts, including news and media, academic writing, and general usage, it might be less appropriate for highly formal or scientific writing. The most frequent authoritative sources using this phrase are "The New York Times", "The Guardian", and "The Economist". If a more formal tone is required, consider using alternatives such as "reduced it" or "simplified it".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced it

Focuses on the act of lessening in size or amount.

simplified it

Highlights the act of making something easier to understand.

trimmed it

Emphasizes the removal of unnecessary parts.

condensed it

Implies compressing information into a smaller form.

shortened it

Focuses on making something shorter in length or duration.

cut it back

Indicates a reduction in spending or resources.

streamlined it

Highlights making something more efficient and simple.

distilled it

Implies extracting the most important elements.

refined it

Focuses on removing impurities and improving quality through reduction.

whittled it down

Suggests gradually reducing something to its essential form.

FAQs

What does "pared it down" mean?

The phrase "pared it down" means to reduce something in size, extent, or complexity, often to its essential elements.

How can I use "pared it down" in a sentence?

You can use "pared it down" to describe simplifying a complex document, such as, "After the meeting, we "pared it down" to the key action items".

Are there any synonyms for "pared it down"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "reduced it", "simplified it", or "trimmed it" to express a similar meaning.

Is "pared it down" appropriate for formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "pared it down" might be considered less formal. In highly formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "reduced it" or "simplified it" to maintain a professional tone.