shortening

USAGE SUMMARY

"shortening" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is usually used when referring to the substance that is used in baking, such as vegetable oil or lard, but it can be used in a figurative sense to describe a process of making something shorter. For example, "The committee proposed shortening the meeting by an hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Our dysfunctional land market is one of the key barriers to house building, so I'm delighted to see proposals to tackle land banking such as charging council tax on undeveloped land and shortening the time before a planning permission expires.

The Guardian

With the clock ticking and the odds shortening on a Greek default, they are still waiting for the Tsipras programme.

The Guardian - Business

A Treasury source said that shortening the timescale from five years to two or three would make it a "much more binding target".

The Guardian

The odds on Ed Miliband being pictured adopting an abandoned greyhound, or Nigel Farage petting a prize bull, must be shortening by the hour.

The Guardian

What's new is that traffickers are supplying boats, shortening migrants' journeys by sea instead of over the land border.

The Guardian

Every time you tweet a URL, Twitter is shortening the URL for you.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

They are also associated with abnormally shortened telomeres (the caps on the ends of chromosomes), and that shortening is, in turn, implicated in the process of ageing.

The Economist

Stress is often seen as a life-shortening factor though perhaps the effects are not as lethal as some people think, or else the Japanese, who are famous for working long hours, would not have the highest life expectancy in the world.Another hazard of affluence is getting fat.

The Economist

The most successful domain-shortening service, bit.ly, got 1.5 billion clicks last week.

The Economist

But if it results in extra offspring (or, at least, if not competing guarantees no offspring), then it is worth it, evolutionarily speaking.That, however, suggests that female titi and owl monkeys must be involved in a life-shortening trade-off of their own.

The Economist

Overweight people are at greater risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, type-II diabetes and other life-shortening ailments though it is not yet clear whether the effects are strong enough to cancel the trend to greater longevity.And life expectancy can go down as well as up.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the culinary context, use "shortening" to describe solid fats used in baking. In other contexts, consider more specific alternatives like "reducing" or "abbreviating" for greater precision.

Common error

Avoid using "shortening" when a more precise term like "reducing", "decreasing", or "abbreviating" would better convey your intended meaning. Using the wrong term can lead to ambiguity and reduce clarity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "shortening" is as a verbal noun (gerund), often acting as the subject or object of a sentence, such as in "The shortening of the workday is being considered." According to Ludwig, "shortening" is a valid and correct word in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shortening" is a versatile word with a strong presence in various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Predominantly found in News & Media and Formal & Business settings, it effectively conveys the concept of reduction in length, duration, or extent. While "shortening" is widely acceptable, it's vital to consider the specific context and choose the most precise term to maintain clarity. Remember that it is most often used in cooking as a noun, and figuratively as a verb in its -ing form. Therefore, if more formal word is needed, consider alternatives like "reducing" or "abbreviating".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reducing

Focuses on the act of making something smaller in amount, size, or intensity.

decreasing

Emphasizes a gradual reduction in quantity, size, or degree.

abbreviating

Specifically refers to making something shorter, often in the context of words or texts.

condensing

Implies making something more compact or dense, often by removing extraneous material.

trimming

Suggests removing unnecessary parts to improve appearance or functionality.

curtailing

Indicates limiting or restricting something, especially in terms of time or extent.

lessening

Highlights the action of making something less significant or intense.

contracting

Refers to reducing in size by drawing together or squeezing.

cutting back

Emphasizes reducing the amount or quantity of something, often for economic reasons.

downsizing

Refers to reducing the size or scale of an organization or operation.

FAQs

How can I use "shortening" in a sentence?

"Shortening" can be used as a noun referring to solid fats in baking, as in "This recipe calls for vegetable shortening". It can also be used as a verb in its -ing form, indicating the action of making something shorter, as in "The company is considering shortening the work week".

What are some alternatives to using the word "shortening"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "reducing", "abbreviating", or "decreasing" to express the idea of making something shorter.

Is it correct to use "shortening" in a business context?

Yes, "shortening" can be used in a business context when referring to reducing timelines or processes, as in "The project aims at shortening the approval process". However, consider using more formal terms like "streamlining" or "optimizing" depending on the specific situation.

What's the difference between "shortening" and "abridging"?

"Shortening" generally means making something shorter in length or duration. "Abridging", on the other hand, specifically refers to reducing the length of a written text, often while preserving its main content. For instance, you might say "shortening the meeting" but "abridging a novel".