reduces in size

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reduces in size" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to decrease or become smaller in physical dimensions or amount. Example: As the temperature drops, water molecules freeze and the volume of the liquid reduces in size, turning into a solid ice cube.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

As it reduces in size, however, the costs become proportionately larger: the price of managing 100,000 policies is not that much smaller than the costs of running 10,000.

The Guardian - Money

Especially when things get slow, Mr. McNamara has been culling the photographs for faces and figures that he reduces in size, tints with color and affixes to whatever — wood cutouts, as well as the props and backdrops already in use — like tattoos or decals, in a process called decoupage.

The New York Times - Arts

Usually during the third trimester it reduces in size or regresses spontaneously after delivery.

Insights into Imaging

Once the disentanglement threshold is reached, the polymer dissolves and the particle reduces in size.

Chemical Engineering Science

As the lake reduces in size, it also grows saltier, making it a great breeding ground for the algae, which turns the water blood-red.

Science Magazine

It predicts that, unlike the equal breakage assumed by earlier models, a large drop reduces in size due to stripping of smaller segments off it through unequal breakage.

Chemical Engineering Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

We have already reduced in size.

The Guardian

It has been reduced in size.

The New Yorker

It's partly because the notes are reducing in size.

The Guardian - Money

In Epson cartridges, meanwhile, the ink tank has been systematically reduced in size.

The Guardian - Money

The bus shelter has been reduced in size to accommodate the increasing hordes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the phrase after a subject that is undergoing a gradual or measurable physical change, such as a tumor, a lake or a business entity.

Common error

Avoid using "reduces in size" when referring to numbers or prices. Instead of saying "the price reduces in size", use "the price decreases" or "the price drops". This phrase should strictly describe physical dimensions or the physical scope of an object.

Linguistic Context

This phrase functions as an intransitive verb phrase composed of the present tense verb "reduces" and a qualifying prepositional phrase "in size". It describes an action where the subject itself undergoes a change. Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is standard for indicating a decrease in physical dimensions without requiring a direct object.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reduces in size" is a grammatically correct and highly versatile expression used primarily in scientific, medical and journalistic contexts. According to Ludwig AI, it is the standard way to describe a physical subject becoming smaller in its dimensions. While synonyms like "shrinks" are common in casual speech, this phrase provides a level of formal precision necessary for technical reporting. It is most frequently found in academic journals describing biological processes or engineering changes. When using it, ensure you are referring to physical volume or area rather than abstract quantities like price or percentage, where "decreases" would be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreases in size

Provides a more formal and strictly quantitative tone often used in research.

shrinks

A more concise and active verb that is slightly less formal than the main query.

diminishes in size

Adds a literary or academic nuance, suggesting a loss of importance or visibility alongside physical reduction.

contracts

Specifically refers to reduction due to internal pressure, cooling or biological muscle action.

scales down

Implies a proportional reduction, often used in business or engineering projects.

tapers

Describes a reduction that specifically happens toward one end or over a specific gradient.

recedes

Used when the reduction involves moving backward or away from a viewpoint.

atrophies

A medical term for reduction in size due to lack of use or disease.

compacts

Implies becoming smaller by becoming denser or more tightly packed.

condenses

Specifically refers to reduction in volume, often when a gas turns into a liquid.

FAQs

How to use "reduces in size" in a sentence?

In scientific writing, you might say, "As the polymer dissolves, the particle "reduces in size"." It is most effective when describing physical transformations.

What can I say instead of "reduces in size"?

Depending on your context, you can use more specific terms like "shrinks" for general usage, "contracts" for physical pressure or "decreases in size" for formal reports.

Is it better to use "shrinks" or "reduces in size"?

"shrinks" is more common in everyday speech, while "reduces in size" is preferred in professional contexts like medicine or engineering to describe a process objectively.

Can "reduces in size" be used for businesses?

Yes, it is often used to describe organizational changes, for example: "The company has "reduced in size" following the recent merger."