seek to minimize

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seek to minimize" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing efforts to reduce something, such as risks, costs, or negative impacts. Example: "The company aims to seek to minimize its environmental footprint through sustainable practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And it should seek to minimize the downside risks.

Harvard Business Review

Hazmat carriers (lower level) seek to minimize their travel cost.

Computers & Operations Research

In addition, one can seek to minimize also the cost of the longest trip.

Computers & Operations Research

Our guidelines for drones seek to minimize civilian loss instead of maximizing it, as our enemy did.

The New York Times

Bankruptcy is like a chess game in which companies seek to minimize liabilities and creditors look to maximize profits.

The New York Times

The new NSP calls on government and nongovernment operations to "seek to minimize the creation" of such fields.

MIT Technology Review

You'd start by looking for the times when customers become impatient and would seek to minimize that time.

Harvard Business Review

Organizations that learn how to fail intelligently outperform organizations that seek to minimize the frequency of failure.

Harvard Business Review

Lawyers for the Chinese companies will seek to minimize the combined effect of the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs.

The New York Times

Cost-quality trade-offs are required when manufacturing industries seek to minimize cost and maximize product quality or reliability.

International Journal of Production Economics

Control algorithms commonly address SOFC lifetime related operability objectives using unconstrained, SISO control algorithms that seek to minimize thermal transients.

Journal of Process Control

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "seek to minimize", ensure the context clearly defines what is being minimized and why it is important to do so. This adds clarity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid embedding "seek to minimize" in overly complex sentences. Simpler phrasing often enhances readability and impact. Break down complex sentences into smaller, more digestible parts to improve clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seek to minimize" functions as an infinitive phrase, expressing a purpose or intention. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to describe efforts aimed at reducing something, such as risks or negative impacts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seek to minimize" is a versatile and frequently used expression that conveys the intention to reduce something undesirable. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely accepted in various contexts, particularly in science, news, and business. When using "seek to minimize", ensure clarity by specifying what you are trying to reduce and why it's important. While alternatives like "attempt to reduce" or "try to lessen" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Overusing the phrase in complex sentences can reduce readability, so aim for simplicity and directness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempt to reduce

Emphasizes the attempt or effort made toward reduction, rather than the active seeking.

try to lessen

Focuses on making something less significant or intense.

aim to diminish

Implies a gradual decrease in something's importance or size.

work to mitigate

Highlights efforts to alleviate the severity or impact of something negative.

strive to curtail

Suggests an effort to restrict or limit something.

endeavor to decrease

Formal alternative, indicating a serious attempt to make something smaller or fewer.

plan to alleviate

Highlights effort to lighten or relieve suffering, deficiency, or difficulty

look to lessen

Focuses on changing the direction of looking, and then make something less significant or intense.

purpose to curtail

Highlights the intention to restrict or limit something.

resolve to reduce

Highlights the act of declaring your intent to reduce something

FAQs

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

Use "seek to minimize" to describe efforts to reduce something undesirable. For example, "The company aims to "seek to minimize" its carbon footprint."

What are some alternatives to "seek to minimize"?

You can use alternatives like "attempt to reduce", "try to lessen", or "work to mitigate" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "seek to minimize" or "try to minimize"?

"Seek to minimize" is more formal and suggests a deliberate, strategic effort. "Try to minimize" implies a less certain or more experimental approach. Choose the phrase that best fits the tone and context of your writing.

What is the difference between "seek to minimize" and "seek to maximize"?

"Seek to minimize" means to reduce something as much as possible, while "seek to maximize" means to increase something as much as possible. They are antonyms, representing opposite goals.