reduce the duration

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reduce the duration" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate a decrease in the length of time. For example, "The team was able to reduce the duration of the project by two weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The drug, also known as oseltamivir, can reduce the duration of conventional flu or prevent it.

The New York Times

The fund will also reduce the duration of its longest-term loans to 7 years from 10 years.

The New York Times

Our findings suggest their use just prior to/during menstruation may significantly reduce the duration of bleeding.

Nature

It would extend the current payroll tax cut but gradually reduce the duration of unemployment benefits.

The New York Times

Noninvasive inhaled NO treatment may reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation while safely treating late PH.

The Journal of Pediatrics

The trend within the Swedish healthcare system is to reduce the duration of hospital care.

Intensive and Critical Care Nursing

There is a consensus that the drug can reduce the duration of influenza symptoms, and can in some circumstances prevent flu, the report reads.

The Guardian

Studies have shown that they can reduce the duration of influenza illness by about a day among healthy adults if taken within 48 hours on onset of symptoms.

The New York Times

Vitamin C did reduce the duration and severity of cold symptoms slightly, but the effect was so small as to be clinically insignificant.

The New York Times - Health

Caltech neuroscientist Christof Koch speculates that the apparent slowing of time in emergencies may come from the power of intense attention to reduce the duration of individual frames.

The New Yorker

Frequent or better yet continuous site-level monitoring of emissions or process conditions would reduce the duration of super-emitting behaviour.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for efficiency in project management, use "reduce the duration" to clearly state the goal of shortening the project's timeline. For example, "We need to implement strategies to "reduce the duration" of the software testing phase."

Common error

Avoid using "reduce the duration" when you actually need to convey the meaning of "eliminating the need". For instance, instead of saying "We will "reduce the duration" of the approval process to zero", use "We will eliminate the approval process."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reduce the duration" functions primarily as a verb phrase. It describes the action of making something shorter in time. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

39%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reduce the duration" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to express the act of shortening a period. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted in English. Its common applications span across scientific, news, and business contexts, frequently appearing in sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While alternatives such as "shorten the length" or "decrease the period" exist, "reduce the duration" maintains a clear and direct tone suitable for diverse communications. This phrase is a cornerstone in discussions around efficiency, optimization, and minimizing time-related impacts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shorten the length

Focuses on making something physically shorter in length or time.

decrease the period

Emphasizes diminishing a specific timeframe.

cut down the time

Suggests a more abrupt or forceful reduction in time.

lessen the timeframe

Highlights a reduction in the designated span of time.

expedite the process

Focuses on speeding up a series of actions or steps.

accelerate the timeline

Implies speeding up the planned schedule of events.

curtail the span

Suggests limiting or restricting the extent of something.

minimize the delay

Emphasizes reducing the amount of lateness or waiting.

compress the schedule

Focuses on fitting more activities into a shorter timeframe.

trim the waiting time

Suggests removing unnecessary time spent waiting.

FAQs

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

You can use "reduce the duration" to describe efforts to shorten something, such as "The goal is to "reduce the duration" of hospital stays" or "New software helps to "reduce the duration" of software testing."

What are some alternatives to "reduce the duration"?

Alternatives include "shorten the length", "decrease the period", or "cut down the time", each offering a slightly different nuance.

Is it better to say "reduce the duration" or "shorten the duration"?

"Reduce the duration" and "shorten the duration" are largely interchangeable. The choice depends on the context and desired tone. "Reduce" might sound more formal, while "shorten" is more casual.

In what contexts is "reduce the duration" commonly used?

"Reduce the duration" is frequently used in medical, project management, and legal contexts to describe efforts to make processes or treatments shorter. For instance, in medicine, it may refer to shortening the length of a hospital stay or illness. In project management, it could mean accelerating project timelines.