reduce the number of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'reduce the number of' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to suggest that something should be made less in number or quantity. For example, you could say: "We need to reduce the number of cars on the road to help lessen air pollution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You reduce the number of laborers.

The New York Times

"You reduce the number of days.

The New York Times

Reduce the number of cars.

The Guardian

Reduce the number of MPs!

The Guardian

It helps reduce the number of typos.

Stanford University

Reduce the number of departments – and the number of ministers.

The Guardian

But we could reduce the number of qualifiers.

The Guardian - Sport

Now there's pressure to reduce the number of sections".

The New York Times

These will help reduce the number of asthma attacks.

The Guardian

It would radically reduce the number of filibusters.

The New Yorker

Gannett Fleming officials agreed to reduce the number of bolts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for conciseness, consider if a more specific verb like "decrease", "lower", or "minimize" can replace "reduce the number of" without losing clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "reduce the number of" in situations where a simpler phrasing like "fewer" or "less" would suffice, maintaining sentence flow and readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reduce the number of" functions as a verb phrase acting as a modifier, indicating an action aimed at decreasing a specific quantity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and widely usable. Examples in Ludwig show it used in various contexts like reducing days, laborers, or even typos.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

9%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reduce the number of" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to advocate for or describe the act of decreasing a countable quantity. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is correct and widely used in written English. Its frequency and neutral to professional register make it suitable for various contexts, especially in news, academic, and business domains. While effective, writers should consider simpler alternatives like "decrease", "lessen", or using "fewer" or "less" where appropriate, to maintain conciseness and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decrease the quantity of

Emphasizes reducing the amount or volume, suitable for measurable items.

lower the count of

More specific to numerical values, often used in statistical or technical contexts.

diminish the amount of

Suggests a gradual reduction, applicable to both tangible and intangible things.

lessen the frequency of

Focuses on reducing how often something occurs, rather than the quantity.

cut down on the amount of

More informal, implying a deliberate effort to use less of something.

minimize the incidence of

Used when referring to undesirable events or occurrences.

curtail the volume of

Implies limiting or restricting something, often related to physical quantities.

bring down the level of

Suggests a reduction to a certain point or standard.

scale back the magnitude of

Focuses on reducing size or intensity.

mitigate the degree of

Used to lessen the impact or severity of something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "reduce the number of" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases such as "decrease the quantity of" or "minimize the incidence of", depending on the context.

Is there a single word I can use instead of "reduce the number of"?

Depending on the context, you might be able to use verbs like "decrease", "lessen", or "minimize" to replace "reduce the number of".

What's the difference between "reduce the number of" and "reduce the amount of"?

"Reduce the number of" is used for countable items (e.g., "reduce the number of cars"), while "reduce the amount of" is used for uncountable items (e.g., "reduce the amount of pollution").

How to use "reduce the number of" in a sentence?

You can use "reduce the number of" followed by a countable noun. For example, "We need to "reduce the number of" errors in the report".