reduce wages

USAGE SUMMARY

"reduce wages" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the idea of cutting income or salaries, or when referring to changes to certain workplace policies that would reduce the amount of wages or salaries that an employee or group of employees would receive. For example, "Due to budget cuts, the company had to reduce wages for all salaried employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Or reduce wages.

The New York Times

True, a rapid burst of immigration might temporarily reduce wages.

The Economist

Tyson said that the numbers were very clear that immigration didn't reduce wages.

The Guardian - Opinion

Officials reiterated their need to reduce wages and benefits to levels achieved at other large carriers.

The New York Times

That is, a $1 increase in corporate taxes will reduce wages by about 60 cents.

The New York Times

He also favors cutting taxes and fees that discourage business and reduce wages.

The New York Times

The contractor who wins the tender will then reduce wages and cut staff.

Independent

And what you see is that even the supposed internal devaluation success stories have barely managed to reduce wages.

The New York Times

Employers, unable to reduce wages when times were bad, have not been raising them now that times are better.

The Economist

This sounds plausible surely an increase in the supply of labour must reduce wages or increase unemployment?

The Economist

Bronfenbrenner also said that employers threatened to shut plants in 57% of unionization elections, to reduce wages and benefits in 47% and to discharge workers in 34%.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In economic analyses, "reduce wages" can be used to describe the impact of policy changes or market forces on worker income.

Common error

Be mindful of the specific context. "Reduce wages" refers directly to lowering pay. Using terms like "cut benefits" or "eliminate bonuses" as substitutes might not accurately reflect the intended meaning, as these impact total compensation but not necessarily base pay.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reduce wages" functions as a verb phrase. It indicates an action taken by an employer or entity to lower the amount of money paid to employees. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reduce wages" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that describes the act of lowering employees' pay. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, mainly in News & Media. Common alternatives include "decrease compensation" or "cut salaries". When using this phrase, ensure you are accurately representing the context of pay reductions and avoid substituting terms that may not fully capture the meaning. Its high usage makes it important to understand its implications and proper application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decrease compensation

Focuses on the overall reduction in what employees receive, encompassing salary and benefits.

lower earnings

Emphasizes the drop in the income employees make, potentially due to factors beyond just wages.

cut salaries

More direct and forceful, implying an immediate reduction in the base salary.

diminish pay

A more formal way to express lowering the amount of payment.

curtail remuneration

Emphasizes a limitation or restriction on the payment or compensation provided.

slash payroll

Indicates a significant and abrupt reduction in the total cost of employee compensation.

downsize payroll

Implies reducing the number of employees to decrease the total wages paid.

implement wage freezes

Stopping any increase of wages, which in some cases is considered reducing them.

enforce pay cuts

Highlights the imposition of a reduction in wages, often against the will of employees.

adjust salary scales downward

Indicates a systemic change in salary levels, affecting multiple employees.

FAQs

How can I use "reduce wages" in a sentence?

You can use "reduce wages" to describe a company's decision to lower employee pay, as in "The company decided to "reduce wages" to avoid layoffs".

What are some alternatives to saying "reduce wages"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "decrease compensation", "cut salaries", or "lower earnings".

Is it correct to say "wages were reduced"?

Yes, "wages were reduced" is a grammatically correct passive construction. It means the same as saying someone or something ""reduce wages"".

What's the difference between "reduce wages" and "wage freeze"?

"Reduce wages" means to actively lower the amount employees are paid, while a "wage freeze" means to temporarily stop any increases in pay.