reduce the cost

USAGE SUMMARY

"reduce the cost" is correct in written English.
You can use this phrase whenever you want to describe the process of cutting expenses or making something less expensive. For example: "We need to figure out a way to reduce the cost of production if we want to stay competitive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"And also to reduce the cost significantly".

The New York Times

But there are ways to reduce the cost.

The Economist

"I could have lots of roommates to reduce the cost.

The New York Times

Mass production would reduce the cost even further.

The Economist

Making it in China would reduce the cost by half.

The New York Times

"Who do you trust to reduce the cost of living pressures?

The Guardian

This is partly a result of its ability to reduce the cost of its electricity.

The Guardian

Another goal is to reduce the cost of borrowing for the taxpayer over time.

The New York Times

Of course, we all want to reduce the cost of prison.

The Guardian

Trump pledged to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, saying, "Prices will come down".

The New Yorker

Here is a technology that would reduce the cost of making steel by twenty per cent.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using quantifiable metrics when discussing how to "reduce the cost" (e.g., reduce cost by 15%, achieve a 10% reduction in costs).

Common error

Avoid vague statements about "reducing the cost" without outlining actionable steps. Vague statements can be misinterpreted and not achieve the desired outcome. Instead, break down the costs and identify actionable strategies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reduce the cost" functions as a verb phrase where "reduce" acts as a transitive verb requiring an object, in this case, "the cost". As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct. It expresses an action aimed at lowering expenses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reduce the cost" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, which serves the purpose of expressing the act of lowering expenses. It finds frequent application across diverse sectors like news, science, and business. While numerous alternatives exist, such as "lower the expenses" and "decrease the expenditure", it's crucial to specify which costs are targeted for reduction to avoid vagueness. This phrase holds a neutral register and an impressive frequency, especially within the domains of news and media, making it an effective term in general use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lower the expenses

Replaces "cost" with "expenses", maintaining the same meaning.

decrease the expenditure

Uses more formal synonyms "expenditure" and "decrease".

minimize the outlay

Employs the term "outlay" to denote the cost and "minimize" to imply reduction.

cut down on spending

Focuses on reducing the act of spending rather than directly addressing the cost.

bring down the price

Specifically targets the "price" of a product or service.

economize on resources

Shifts the focus to using resources more efficiently to save money.

streamline operations

Suggests improving efficiency to indirectly lower costs.

optimize resource allocation

Focuses on efficient allocation of resources that will lead to cost reduction.

trim the budget

Refers to reducing the overall budget, implying cost reduction.

curtail financial burdens

Addresses the act of alleviating the burden the financials put on business.

FAQs

How can I use "reduce the cost" in a sentence?

You can use "reduce the cost" in various contexts, such as "We need to "reduce the cost" of production" or "The new technology will help "reduce the cost" of energy consumption".

What are some alternatives to "reduce the cost"?

Alternatives to "reduce the cost" include "lower the expenses", "decrease the expenditure", and "minimize the outlay".

Is it better to say "reduce the cost" or "lower the cost"?

Both "reduce the cost" and "lower the cost" are grammatically correct and commonly used. The choice depends on personal preference and the context. They are largely interchangeable.

How does "reduce the cost" relate to efficiency?

Often, to "reduce the cost", businesses seek to improve efficiency. This might involve streamlining processes, optimizing resource allocation, or adopting new technologies to achieve the same output with less input.