reduce the risk of

USAGE SUMMARY

"reduce the risk of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when talking about the reduction of potential harm or danger. Example: We must take measures to reduce the risk of injury on the construction site.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Lycopene may reduce the risk of some cancers.

The New York Times - Food

The hormone treatments clearly reduce the risk of hip fractures.

The New York Times

And all three drugs reduce the risk of fractures.

The New York Times

That would reduce the risk of more unnecessary deaths.

The Guardian - Opinion

The things that reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease will also reduce the risk of vascular dementia.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"By following this protocol, airlines will reduce the risk of being diverted to an airport outside the UK and reduce the risk of having an outbound flight cancelled".

The Guardian

Either technique can substantially reduce the risk of colon cancer.

The New York Times

NOTES could reduce the risk of post-operative infections.

The Economist

What should countries do to reduce the risk of crises?

The Economist

This can also reduce the risk of red eye.

Independent

The bank account has helped to reduce the risk of financial exclusion and re-offending rates.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing preventative measures, clearly state what action will "reduce the risk of" which specific negative outcome. This adds clarity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the extent to which something can "reduce the risk of" a negative outcome. Use qualifiers like 'may,' 'can,' or 'potentially' to maintain accuracy and avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reduce the risk of" functions as a verb phrase expressing the action of minimizing or lessening the probability of something undesirable. It's often used to describe preventive measures or strategies aimed at decreasing potential harm or danger, as seen in examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reduce the risk of" is a versatile and commonly used expression that signifies actions taken to minimize potential negative outcomes. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts. It appears frequently in news articles, scientific publications, and general information websites, with a neutral to formal register. Alternatives like "mitigate the risk of" or "minimize the likelihood of" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. When using the phrase, it's important to clearly state what action will "reduce the risk of" what specific outcome and to avoid exaggerating the extent of the risk reduction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mitigate the risk of

Replaces "reduce" with "mitigate", suggesting a lessening of severity rather than outright reduction.

minimize the likelihood of

Substitutes "risk" with "likelihood" and "reduce" with "minimize", focusing on probability.

lessen the chance of

Uses simpler vocabulary, replacing "risk" with "chance" and "reduce" with "lessen".

decrease the probability of

Emphasizes the statistical aspect of risk, using "probability" instead of "risk".

lower the odds of

Replaces "risk" with the more informal "odds", implying a reduction in statistical disadvantage.

curtail the potential for

Shifts focus to limiting potential, replacing "risk" with "potential" and "reduce" with "curtail".

alleviate the danger of

Substitutes "risk" with "danger" and "reduce" with "alleviate", focusing on easing the severity of the danger.

diminish the threat of

Emphasizes threat reduction, using "threat" instead of "risk" and "diminish" instead of "reduce".

shrink the possibility of

Focuses on reducing possibility, replacing "risk" with "possibility" and "reduce" with "shrink".

guard against the hazard of

Shifts the focus to protection and prevention of a hazard.

FAQs

How can I use "reduce the risk of" in a sentence?

You can use "reduce the risk of" to describe actions that lessen the probability of a negative event occurring. For example, 'Wearing a helmet can "reduce the risk of" head injuries'.

What are some alternatives to "reduce the risk of"?

Some alternatives include "mitigate the risk of", "minimize the likelihood of", or "lessen the chance of". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "reduce the risk of" or "eliminate the risk of"?

"Reduce the risk of" is more realistic in many situations, as completely "eliminate the risk of" something is often impossible. However, if complete elimination is achievable, then "eliminate the risk of" is appropriate.

What's the difference between "reduce the risk of" and "manage the risk of"?

"Reduce the risk of" implies lessening the probability of something negative occurring, while "manage the risk of" suggests dealing with the potential negative consequences should they arise. "Manage the risk of" focuses on handling the impact, whereas "reduce the risk of" aims to prevent the event in the first place.