reduced to below

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reduced to below" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as it combines two contradictory ideas of reduction and being below a certain level. Example: "The temperature was reduced to below freezing, causing the water to turn to ice."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Recently, the degradation rate has been reduced to below 0.5% per 1000 h by introduction of improved stack component materials, including improved metallic interconnects.

Fuel Cells Bulletin

Transmittance of the solution was reduced to below 0.1 % after 2 h of reaction (Fig. 2a).

Applied Petrochemical Research

Resources were constrained and prices reduced to below cost, but still demand grew.

The Guardian

Theoretically, the reflectivity can be reduced to below 0.01% for NCs with perfectly square edges.

Nature

S was reduced to below detection limits (< 0.1 wt.%) at all reaction conditions investigated.

Algal Research

On the seacoast these figures are reduced to below 50 and 10, respectively.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In this fashion, its percolation threshold can be reduced to below 5 vol%.

Polymer

We found that all forms of noise in the sleep environment should be reduced to below 35 dB.

Building and Environment

AChE activity was normalized by compound 8b and reduced to below normal values by compounds 10 and 14a.

Steroids

Only if treatment is maintained throughout enough mineralisation (i.e. TOC disappearance), the toxicity is reduced to below the threshold (EC50%).

Water Research

The friction coefficient can be reduced to below 0.4 when the density of the micro-dimples is approximately 34%.

Tribology International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "reduced to below" in formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "lowered to under" or "decreased to under" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid redundant phrasing. The phrase "reduced to below" is often seen as redundant since "reduced" already implies going below a previous level. Using only "reduced to X" or "lowered to under X" provides a more concise and grammatically sound sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase primarily functions as a modifier indicating a process of diminution resulting in a value dropping beneath a specified threshold. Although commonly used, Ludwig AI flags it as not correct in standard written English due to the redundancy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

79%

News & Media

13%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reduced to below" is commonly used to express that something has decreased to a level beneath a certain threshold. However, Ludwig AI analysis suggests it is considered grammatically incorrect due to redundancy. While frequently found in scientific and news contexts, it's advisable to use clearer, more concise alternatives like "lowered to under" or "decreased to under" in formal writing. This ensures grammatical accuracy and avoids potential ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lowered to under

Changes the verb to "lowered" and replaces "below" with "under", maintaining the meaning with slightly different wording.

decreased to under

Substitutes "reduced" with "decreased" and "below" with "under", offering a similar meaning with a different verb choice.

dropped to under

Replaces "reduced" with "dropped" and "below" with "under", indicating a more sudden decrease.

diminished to under

Uses "diminished" instead of "reduced" and "under" instead of "below", suggesting a gradual decline.

cut to under

Replaces "reduced" with "cut" and "below" with "under", implying a deliberate action to decrease something.

brought down to under

Uses a phrasal verb "brought down" instead of "reduced" and "under" instead of "below", indicating a controlled decrease.

brought to under

Uses a phrasal verb "brought to" instead of "reduced to" and "under" instead of "below", indicating resulting state below a value.

scaled down to under

Replaces "reduced" with "scaled down" and "below" with "under", suggesting a proportional decrease.

lessened to under

Substitutes "reduced" with "lessened" and "below" with "under", indicating a decrease in intensity or amount.

shrunk to under

Replaces "reduced" with "shrunk" and "below" with "under", implying a physical reduction in size or scope.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "reduced to below"?

Alternatives include "lowered to under", "decreased to under", or "dropped to under" depending on the context.

Is the phrase "reduced to below" grammatically correct?

The phrase "reduced to below" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to redundancy. It's better to use phrases like "reduced to" or "lowered to under".

How can I use "reduced to" correctly in a sentence?

You can say, "The price was reduced to $20" or "The noise level was reduced to a minimum". Using "reduced to" implies a decrease to a specific level.

What's the difference between "reduced to below" and "decreased to under"?

While both phrases aim to indicate a decrease, "decreased to under" is generally preferred for its clarity and lack of redundancy compared to the less grammatically sound "reduced to below".