reduce the need

USAGE SUMMARY

"reduce the need" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to lessening the amount of need for something. For example, "The campaign was successful in helping to reduce the need for additional food donations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Indeed, education spending may reduce the need for incarceration.

The New York Times

The skylights and windows reduce the need for artificial light.

The New Yorker

Over time, this would reduce the need for affirmative action.

The New York Times

Water will be recycled, to reduce the need for desalination.

The Economist

Speed, Lincoln concluded, might reduce the need for supplies.

The New York Times

The approach could sharply reduce the need for costly pumping systems for treating ground water.

The New York Times

Clean and uncrowded conditions and vaccination of animals can reduce the need to use antibiotics.

The Guardian

Part of the idea is to reduce the need for bus service.

The New York Times

Let's reduce the need to travel, rather than building more roads.

The Guardian

Triple-glazed windows will reduce the need for heating in winter and cooling in summer.

The Guardian - Business

Uber emphasizes that it is helping to reduce the need for personal car ownership.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to "reduce the need" for something, identify the root causes that contribute to that need and address those directly for a more effective and sustainable solution.

Common error

Avoid claiming that a solution will completely eliminate a need when it only partially addresses it. Use qualifying language like 'significantly reduce' or 'substantially lessen' to accurately reflect the impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reduce the need" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating an action taken to decrease or lessen a requirement or necessity. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts, from reducing the need for travel to the need for antibiotics.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

25%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reduce the need" is a versatile and commonly used expression to describe actions that lessen the demand or necessity for something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability. It is most frequently found in news and media sources, suggesting its neutrality and broad relevance. When using this phrase, consider the root causes of the need you are addressing and be realistic about the extent to which you can diminish it. Alternatives such as "decrease the requirement" or "lessen the necessity" can provide subtle variations in tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decrease the requirement

Replaces 'need' with 'requirement', emphasizing a formal necessity.

lessen the necessity

Substitutes 'reduce' with 'lessen' and 'need' with 'necessity', offering a slightly more formal tone.

minimize the demand

Focuses on lowering the 'demand' rather than the 'need', implying a proactive approach.

alleviate the pressure

Shifts the focus to easing 'pressure', suggesting a stressful need being relieved.

mitigate the urgency

Highlights the lessening of 'urgency', implying a time-sensitive need being addressed.

curtail the dependence

Emphasizes reducing 'dependence', implying a reliance that needs to be decreased.

diminish the reliance

Similar to 'curtail the dependence', focusing on lessening reliance on something.

cut back on the obligation

Highlights the reduction of an 'obligation', implying a duty or commitment being lessened.

scale down the imperative

Focuses on reducing an 'imperative', indicating a critical need is being lessened.

moderate the compulsion

Implies reducing an inner 'compulsion', suggesting an internal drive being lessened.

FAQs

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

You can use "reduce the need" to describe actions that lessen the demand or necessity for something. For example, "Implementing energy-efficient practices will "reduce the need" for excessive power consumption".

What are some alternatives to "reduce the need"?

Alternatives include "decrease the requirement", "lessen the necessity", and "minimize the demand". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired nuance.

Is it better to say "reduce the need for" or "reduce the need of"?

"Reduce the need for" is the more common and grammatically preferred construction. "Reduce the need of" is less frequently used and may sound awkward to native English speakers.

What's the difference between "reduce the need" and "eliminate the need"?

"Reduce the need" implies lessening the demand or necessity for something, while "eliminate the need" suggests completely removing it. For example, improving public transportation may "reduce the need" for personal vehicles, while telepathy might "eliminate the need" for verbal communication.