smoothing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smoothing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to the act of making something smoother or less rough, often in relation to processes, surfaces, or data. Example: "The artist spent hours smoothing the edges of the sculpture to achieve a polished finish."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Do you ever have problems smoothing out the bottom of your tart pastry?

The Guardian

Some would spend hours smoothing a napkin, touching its edges or perhaps folding and refolding it – occasionally a resident might fold one to create a purse, or a vase for a flower.

The Guardian

"Bill shock" is a typical initial reaction of smart meter users, says First Utility, as customers used to smoothing out costs with fixed monthly direct debits are suddenly hit with bills reflecting actual usage over a cold winter.

The Guardian - Money

Based on this empirical evidence, the publicists subjected McCarthy's image to a digital diet: smoothing the folds and cutting the double chin.

The Guardian - Arts

The dentist began smoothing the chipped tooth and rebuilding it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Finally, this shock had an unusually damaging effect on the share price.From this, the authors concluded that managers who are in the habit of smoothing earnings have an especially strong motive to keep the good news coming, whether or not the business warrants it.

The Economist

The main reason is that it may be only a small jump from this type of earnings management to the other, more malignant type, when companies are not smoothing, but covering up slowing growth or losses.A working paper* by Mr Skinner and Linda Myers, which looked at 399 firms with unusually smooth and consistent earnings growth, found several interesting things.

The Economist

Another was that there was evidence that they were smoothing bumpy earnings.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Citigroup, another American giant with a broad range of financial businesses, trades on 14 times earnings.Over the long term, GE's performance will speak for itself (although not necessarily for the risks it takes to earn this money: remember the profit-smoothing).

The Economist

Beyond this, the amount of profits-smoothing that GE indulges in is a matter of speculation.GE also manages expectations about its earnings by managing its analysts.

The Economist

Securities regulators contributed to the problem, frowning on boom-time reserve-building as possible profit-smoothing in disguise.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial reports or economic cycles, consider using "smoothing" to describe techniques that reduce volatility and create a more consistent appearance over time. For example, "The company employed earnings smoothing to present a stable financial performance."

Common error

Avoid using "smoothing" when the intended meaning is simply "making something smooth to the touch". "Smoothing" often implies a figurative reduction of irregularities, not necessarily a physical alteration of a surface.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "smoothing" is as a verb, specifically in its gerund or present participle form. As evidenced by Ludwig, it often acts as a verb describing the action of making something more uniform or agreeable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "smoothing" is a versatile verb used to describe the act of making something more uniform or agreeable, whether physically or figuratively. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts, notably in News & Media and Formal & Business. While often neutral in tone, understanding its specific application is crucial to avoid misinterpretations. Alternative phrases include "ameliorating" and "easing", offering nuanced options depending on the intended context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evening out

Suggests creating a more balanced or uniform distribution, reducing fluctuations or disparities.

streamlining

Indicates simplifying or making more efficient, often by removing unnecessary steps or complications.

easing

Implies making something less difficult or burdensome, often related to processes or transitions.

harmonizing

Implies bringing different elements into agreement or accord, creating a pleasing or coherent whole.

ameliorating

Refers to making something better or more tolerable, focusing on improving a condition or situation.

mitigating

Focuses on lessening the negative impact or severity of something, such as risks or damages.

alleviating

Suggests reducing pain, difficulty, or severity, often in the context of problems or discomfort.

facilitating

Focuses on making a process or action easier or more likely to happen, often by removing obstacles.

refining

Indicates improving something by removing imperfections or unwanted elements, resulting in a more polished state.

leveling

Means making something flat or even, also used figuratively to reduce differences or inequalities.

FAQs

How can I use "smoothing" in a sentence?

"Smoothing" is often used to describe making something more uniform, agreeable, or less problematic, as in "smoothing out the differences" or "smoothing earnings" to create a more consistent impression.

What can I say instead of "smoothing"?

You can use alternatives like "ameliorating", "easing", or "alleviating" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "smoothing" or "making smooth"?

Both "smoothing" and "making smooth" are correct, but "smoothing" often implies a more figurative or process-oriented action, while "making smooth" typically refers to a physical alteration. For example, in a figurative sense, the company used "smoothing" for the earnings report.

What's the difference between "smoothing" and "refining"?

"Smoothing" aims to reduce irregularities or volatility, whereas "refining" focuses on improving something by removing imperfections, often resulting in a more polished final product. The difference between them is small: generally refining includes the act of perfecting something while smoothing refers to even things out.