reduce obstacles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reduce obstacles" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing ways to eliminate or lessen barriers that hinder progress or success in various contexts, such as business, education, or personal development. Example: "To improve team efficiency, we need to identify and reduce obstacles that prevent effective communication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"Actions that reduce obstacles to conducting serious, rigorous science regarding the use of cannabis to treat diseases is a good thing," he said.

The Guardian

The shift underscores efforts by the secretary of veterans affairs, Eric Shinseki, a retired Army chief of staff and a Vietnam veteran himself, to reduce obstacles to sick or disabled veterans' receiving benefits.

The New York Times

Richard L. Hasen, a voting specialist at the University of California-Irvine, said that despite concerted legislative efforts since 2000 to reduce obstacles to overseas voting, military participation rates remain "abysmally low".

The New York Times

It recommended a new program to address the problem, with measures including job guarantees for young people, labor market changes to reduce obstacles to hiring across European borders, and further efforts to provide high-quality training and apprenticeship programs.

The New York Times

The Huffington Post reports that on Monday he will announce a series of measures designed to reduce obstacles facing former prisoners reintegrating into society, including an executive order directing federal employers to delay asking questions about a job applicant's criminal history until later in the application process.

Huffington Post

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama on Monday will announce a series of measures designed to reduce obstacles facing former prisoners reintegrating into society, including an executive action directing federal employers to delay asking questions about a job applicant's criminal history until later in the application process.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

There is finally a Palestinian leader who appears willing not to scapegoat Israel as a way to avoid making decisions, and because Mr. Sharon is taking steps besides the disengagement -- like freeing prisoners, letting more Palestinians work in Israel and reducing obstacles -- to convince Palestinians there is a good alternative to violence.

The New York Times

If Mr Cameron is serious about reducing obstacles to social mobility, he should amend the act to enable the director of the Office for Fair Access to require the universities and colleges to do what is necessary to achieve fairness in admissions, including taking due account of "contextual information" about applicants.

The Guardian

Lenders can expand their conversions by boosting the number of high-quality leads and reducing obstacles to the loan application process.

TechCrunch

First, opening trade by reducing obstacles to trade or restrictions to trade promotes growth and welfare.

Huffington Post

Second, opening trade by reducing obstacles is about leveling the playing field and doing this in a predictable way that creates stable expectations.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to improve efficiency in a process, use "reduce obstacles" to describe specific actions that lessen difficulties and promote smoother operations.

Common error

Be precise: use "reduce obstacles" when referring to tangible or systemic impediments, not general difficulties or motivational issues which are better described as "addressing challenges".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reduce obstacles" functions as a verb phrase where "reduce" acts as a transitive verb taking "obstacles" as its direct object. It describes the action of lessening or diminishing the impact of barriers, as shown by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

44%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "reduce obstacles" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression across diverse fields, including news, science, and business. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It serves to advocate for actions that improve efficiency and progress by lessening impediments. While alternatives such as ""minimize obstacles"" or ""eliminate barriers"" exist, "reduce obstacles" strikes a balance between complete removal and mere acknowledgement of challenges, making it a versatile choice for expressing the intent to facilitate smoother operations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimize obstacles

Focuses on reducing obstacles to the smallest possible amount.

eliminate barriers

Suggests a complete removal of hindrances, rather than just a reduction.

remove impediments

Similar to "eliminate barriers" but with a slightly more formal tone.

overcome challenges

Implies actively dealing with and conquering difficulties.

clear roadblocks

Suggests removing specific and identifiable obstacles.

ease difficulties

Focuses on making things less difficult or burdensome.

mitigate challenges

Suggests making challenges less severe or harmful.

address difficulties

Focuses on directly dealing with problematic issues.

simplify processes

Implies making something easier by removing unnecessary complications.

streamline operations

Refers to improving efficiency by removing unnecessary steps or obstacles.

FAQs

How can I use "reduce obstacles" in a sentence?

You can use "reduce obstacles" to describe actions aimed at lessening hindrances. For example: "The company implemented new policies to "reduce obstacles" to innovation".

What are some alternatives to "reduce obstacles"?

Some alternatives include "minimize obstacles", "eliminate barriers", or "overcome challenges", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "reduce obstacles" or "eliminate obstacles"?

While both are valid, "reduce obstacles" implies lessening the impact of hindrances, whereas "eliminate obstacles" suggests complete removal. Choose the option that best fits the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "reduce obstacles" and "address challenges"?

"Reduce obstacles" refers to lessening tangible impediments, while "address challenges" implies dealing with difficulties that may not be concrete or physical barriers.