shrank the amount

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shrank the amount" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "shrank the amount of" or "shrank the amount to." Example: "The new policy shrank the amount of waste produced by the factory."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

An analysis supplied by US Airways' actuary, Towers Perrin, suggests that when the airline assumed its pilots would retire four years later than they really did, it shrank the amount it appeared to owe them by about $385 million.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"More and more that shrinks the amount of time they spend on editorial".

The Guardian

As things stand, the most likely action revolves around shrinking the amount of notice period executives must be allowed.

The Guardian

"Credit-tightening will shrink the amount of private label credit outstanding over time, but it will have an immediate impact on retail sales," he added.

The New York Times

The team had to re-engineer Facebook's software to drastically shrink the amount of data sent over slow cellular networks.

The New York Times - Tech

Now, though, Internet-based software applications are shifting the balance, shrinking the amount of human time and effort that needs to be spent on internal co-ordination.

The Economist

The arrangement would shrink the amount of time it takes to become a naturalized citizen, to three years from five years.

The New York Times

But the city, which owns the pier, is now proposing to extend the UnConvention Center's lease for up to 12 years, and shrink the amount of public space required under the city's waterfront zoning rules.

The New York Times

If you want to see more of the Web in your browser window, consider an add-on that shrinks the amount of space that program's toolbars take up.

The New York Times

While plenty of schools teach fund-raising, there are no advanced degrees in how to be a philanthropist, turn down a request or shrink the amount of a gift that is being sought.

The New York Times

Now, the federal health officials are trying to shrink the amount of paper necessary for people to apply for coverage under the new health insurance marketplaces, or exchanges, that are to begin operating this fall.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, use "reduced the amount of" or "decreased the quantity of". This phrasing avoids potential ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid omitting "of" after "amount" when using "reduce" or "decrease". "Reduced the amount of" is grammatically sound, while "reduced the amount" is generally considered incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shrank the amount" functions as a verb phrase aiming to express a reduction. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase lacks the preposition "of" making it grammatically incorrect in most contexts. Examples provided by Ludwig show the correct usage with the inclusion of "of."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

11%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "shrank the amount" attempts to convey a reduction, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect without the addition of "of". Ludwig AI highlights that the correct form would be "shrank the amount of" or suitable alternatives like "reduced the amount of". The phrase appears most frequently in news and media but, to maintain clarity and professionalism, adopting grammatically sound alternatives such as "reduced the amount of" or "decreased the quantity of" is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced the quantity

Replaces 'shrank' with 'reduced' and 'amount' with 'quantity', providing a more standard phrasing.

decreased the volume

Uses 'decreased' instead of 'shrank' and 'volume' in place of 'amount', suggesting a reduction in size or capacity.

lessened the extent

Substitutes 'shrank' with 'lessened' and 'amount' with 'extent', indicating a reduction in scope or degree.

diminished the size

Replaces 'shrank' with 'diminished' and 'amount' with 'size', focusing on a reduction in physical dimensions.

cut down the number

Employs 'cut down' instead of 'shrank' and 'number' for 'amount', implying a reduction in count.

lowered the level

Uses 'lowered' instead of 'shrank' and 'level' for 'amount', suggesting a decrease in height or degree.

minimized the magnitude

Replaces 'shrank' with 'minimized' and 'amount' with 'magnitude', indicating a reduction in significance or intensity.

curtailed the proportion

Substitutes 'shrank' with 'curtailed' and 'amount' with 'proportion', focusing on reducing a relative share.

trimmed the total

Employs 'trimmed' instead of 'shrank' and 'total' for 'amount', implying a slight or careful reduction.

scaled back the quantity of

Replaces 'shrank' with 'scaled back', adding 'of' to complete the meaning in a less direct way.

FAQs

Is "shrank the amount" grammatically correct?

No, "shrank the amount" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "shrank the amount of" or alternatives such as "reduced the amount of".

What's the difference between "shrank the amount" and "reduced the amount of"?

While "shrank the amount" is not standard English, "reduced the amount of" is a grammatically correct and widely accepted alternative. "Reduced" is the preferred term in formal writing.

How can I rephrase "shrank the amount" to sound more professional?

To sound more professional, replace "shrank the amount" with phrases like "decreased the quantity of", "lessened the extent of", or "diminished the size of". These options offer a more formal and precise tone.

When is it acceptable to use "shrank the amount"?

While not strictly correct, "shrank the amount" might be used in very informal contexts. However, it's best to opt for grammatically sound alternatives like "reduced the amount" or "decreased the amount", even in casual settings.