seek to decrease

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seek to decrease" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing an intention or effort to reduce something, such as costs, risks, or negative impacts. Example: "The organization aims to seek to decrease its carbon footprint by implementing more sustainable practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Punitive responses to juvenile offending that might seek to decrease youth crime actually have the opposite effect, resulting in an increase in repeat offences.

The Guardian - Opinion

Over the next few years, the United States should seek to decrease its forces from the 15 combat brigades planned for July to no more than five, and reduce their role to a largely advisory one.

The New York Times

Users are often environmentally conscious and seek to decrease their impact on water resources, or they may be in areas where water and sewer infrastructure is at capacity or otherwise limited.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The emergence of antibiotic resistance is inevitable, but we must seek to decrease its impact and prolong the effectiveness of the agents available to us.

Journal of Infection

Moreover, it has been suggested that interventions should seek to decrease sedentary behaviour [ 38].

Health Education Research

These two outcomes are the extreme situations that psychiatric emergency care may seek to decrease in the pediatric population.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Estonia, which suffered decades of Soviet occupation, sought to decrease the memorial's prominence.

The New York Times

She helped establish Aid Babies Battling AIDS, a community program in Mdantsane, South Africa, which seeks to decrease cases of mother-to-child H.I.V. transmission.

The New York Times

Mr. Warren replied, "Public health contemplates the consideration of competing factors, including costs, in seeking to decrease population sickness and increase longevity".

The New York Times

B3 SPORTSMONDAY D1-10 Armstrong YInlds Yellow Jersey In a tactical decision, Lance Armstrong yielded the yellow jersey of the overall leader of the Tour de France, dropping to third place as he sought to decrease the workload and pressure on his team.

The New York Times

The financial reform overhaul known as Dodd-Frank sought to decrease the emphasis on ratings in the way banks and mutual funds invest their assets.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "seek to decrease", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being reduced and the desired outcome. For example, "The company seeks to decrease its carbon emissions to improve sustainability."

Common error

Avoid using "seek to decrease" in very informal or casual writing. Simpler alternatives like "try to lower" or "aim to reduce" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seek to decrease" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It indicates the intention or objective behind an action, as supported by Ludwig examples. The phrase includes a verb of volition ("seek") followed by an infinitive expressing reduction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seek to decrease" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for indicating a deliberate effort to reduce something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for expressing intent across various contexts, particularly in science, news, and formal communications. While "seek to decrease" is a valid phrase, consider using synonyms like "aim to lessen" or "try to diminish" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Though versatile, it's best reserved for neutral to formal writing, avoiding overuse in casual contexts. Remember to clearly define what you are aiming to reduce for clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aim to lessen

This alternative uses "lessen" instead of "decrease", suggesting a reduction in degree or intensity.

try to diminish

Uses "diminish" to convey a gradual reduction, adding a sense of subtlety.

work to curtail

"Curtail" implies a restriction or limitation, often in a more formal context.

attempt to minimize

"Minimize" suggests reducing something to the smallest possible amount.

endeavor to abate

"Abate" implies reducing the intensity or severity of something, often used in formal contexts.

strive to mitigate

"Mitigate" suggests reducing the harmful effects of something.

look to alleviate

"Alleviate" implies easing or relieving something, often pain or suffering.

plan to curb

"Curb" suggests restraining or controlling something.

set out to taper

"Taper" implies a gradual decrease, often used in quantitative contexts.

seek to attenuate

"Attenuate" means to weaken or reduce in force, intensity, or value, generally more formal and technical.

FAQs

How can I use "seek to decrease" in a sentence?

Use "seek to decrease" to express a deliberate effort to reduce something. For example, "Researchers seek to decrease the side effects of the medication" or "The government seeks to decrease unemployment rates".

What are some alternatives to "seek to decrease"?

You can use alternatives like "aim to lessen", "try to diminish", or "work to curtail" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "seek to reduce" or "seek to decrease"?

Both "seek to reduce" and "seek to decrease" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on the context and desired nuance. "Reduce" is more general, while "decrease" implies a quantifiable reduction.

What's the difference between "seek to decrease" and "try to decrease"?

"Seek to decrease" suggests a more formal and strategic effort, whereas "try to decrease" implies a more experimental or less certain approach. "Seek" often involves planning and intent.