reducing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reducing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of making something smaller, less in amount, or less intense. Example: "The company is focused on reducing waste in its production process to promote sustainability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

States and territories will also lose access to reward payments for reducing waiting times under the national partnership agreement on improving public hospital services, saving the federal government $201m over three years.

The Guardian

If history is anything to go by, he will delegate economic policy to technocrats, and focus his own energies on tackling insecurity and reducing corruption in government.

The Guardian - Opinion

Exercise stimulates the growth and repair of cells in the hippocampus, and induces a more positive mood, making you less susceptible to stress and reducing the amount of cortisol released.

The Guardian

The firm attempted to maintain its profitability by marginally reducing the proportion of revenue set aside to pay staff to 36.8% from 36.9%.

The Guardian - Business

He added: "After a comprehensive review I've determined that we can ensure the security of America and our allies – and maintain a strong and credible strategic deterrent – while reducing our deployed strategic nuclear weapons by up to one-third".

The Guardian

The OECD was a supporter of workers in southern European countries taking a hit to their wage packets and argues that "wage adjustments have played an important role in helping the labour market weather the deep cyclical downturn, reducing job losses in the downturn and promoting employment growth in the recovery".

The Guardian - Business

My case is that your government has cumulatively attacked the Rule of Law by reducing liberties in many different areas.

The Guardian - Opinion

The trust has since resumed normal service after reducing the number of beds in its under-pressure emergency assessment unit to allow staff to focus on priority cases.

The Guardian

The number of staff receiving increments is reducing as more staff reach the top of their pay bands, which is when annual increments usually stop.

The Guardian

Getting more energy from renewables; increased energy efficiency; reducing the income gap; putting more reliable, durable products on the market (have you heard of planned obsolescence?); volunteering more for your community; preserving wetlands, forests, and farmland; shorter commutes and transport routes.

The Guardian

Lawyers dispute precisely when that referendum would be triggered by the act, but it is agreed an increase in majority voting at EU level, so reducing national sovereingty, would require a referendum.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, use "reducing" followed by a specific measurable noun. For example, "reducing carbon emissions" is clearer than simply "reducing".

Common error

Avoid using "reducing" without a clear object or context. Vague statements like "we are reducing" lack impact. Always specify what is being reduced.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "reducing" is as a present participle or gerund. It functions as a verb form that can act as part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., "is reducing") or as a noun (e.g., "reducing waste is important"). Ludwig AI shows many examples where it modifies nouns to describe a characteristic.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "reducing" is a versatile verb form widely used to describe the act of making something smaller or less. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent appearance, particularly in News & Media. While the phrase itself doesn't present grammatical challenges, the key to effective communication lies in specifying what is being "reduced" to avoid vagueness. Related terms such as "lessening" and "decreasing" offer subtle variations in meaning, allowing for precise expression. In summary, "reducing" is a valuable tool for conveying the active process of diminution across various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lessening

Implies a gradual decrease, often in something intangible like pain or stress.

decreasing

Suggests a continuous decline, often in numerical or measurable terms.

diminishing

Indicates a gradual fading or lessening, often of importance or impact.

cutting down

Implies a deliberate act of lessening, often in consumption or expenditure.

trimming

Suggests a reduction to improve appearance or efficiency.

abating

Signifies a reduction in intensity or severity, often of something negative like a storm or pain.

alleviating

Implies easing or relieving something burdensome.

mitigating

Suggests lessening the severity of something negative, like risks or consequences.

curtailing

Indicates restricting or limiting something.

weakening

Implies making something less strong or effective.

FAQs

How can I use "reducing" in a sentence?

You can use "reducing" to describe the act of making something smaller or less. For example, "The company is "reducing costs" by streamlining its operations".

What are some alternatives to "reducing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "lessening", "decreasing", or "diminishing".

Is it better to say "reducing" or "decreasing"?

"Reducing" and "decreasing" are often interchangeable, but "reducing" can sometimes imply a more active or intentional effort, while "decreasing" is a more general term for becoming smaller.

What's the difference between "reducing" and "mitigating"?

"Reducing" generally means making something smaller or less, while "mitigating" specifically means lessening the severity or impact of something negative, like risks or damages.