strive to decrease

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strive to decrease" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing an effort or intention to reduce something, such as costs, waste, or negative impacts. Example: "Our organization aims to strive to decrease our carbon footprint over the next five years."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As medicine becomes more patient-oriented and emphasis is being placed on patient well-being, we strive to decrease the pain associated with medical procedures.

Annals of Hematology

In a time of global warming and biodiversity loss, it is also urgent that scientists strive to decrease the environmental footprint of their research activities.

BMC Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But "in general, we were striving to decrease our traffic a little bit," said Stephen Sigmund, a spokesman for the agency.

The New York Times

"With the increased number of deliveries we make each year, we were faced with the challenge of ensuring our delivery times continue to decrease and that we strive to offer our customers new and progressive ways of ordering from us," Domino's Group chief executive and managing director Don Meij told the New Zealand Herald.

The Washington Post

Interventions with adolescents should strive to enhance body satisfaction and avoid messages likely to lead to decreases in body satisfaction.

Duke University

We strive to get better".

The New York Times - Sports

"Strive to underpromise and overdeliver".

The New York Times

CENTRAL bankers ordinarily strive to be boring.

The Economist

Mr Zuma will strive to retain investors' confidence.

The Economist

Most colleges strive to achieve two goals.

The New York Times

"I really strive to be daring.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "strive to decrease", ensure that the context clearly indicates what you are trying to reduce. Be specific for clarity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "strive to decrease" can sound slightly awkward or less direct than alternatives like "aim to reduce" in formal writing. Choose the phrasing that best suits the tone and audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strive to decrease" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It indicates an intention to reduce something, combining the effort implied by "strive" with the action of "decrease". Ludwig confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "strive to decrease" is a grammatically correct expression used to convey an intention to reduce something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's generally acceptable, but it's relatively rare and may sound less direct than alternatives like "aim to reduce" or "work to minimize", especially in formal contexts. Primarily found in science and news media, using "strive to decrease" effectively involves ensuring clarity about the object being reduced and considering the tone appropriate for the audience. While its usage is valid, exploring alternative phrasings can often lead to more impactful and stylistically fitting expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endeavor to reduce

Replaces 'strive' with 'endeavor', emphasizing a serious attempt; 'decrease' is replaced by 'reduce', a synonym.

aim to minimize

Substitutes 'strive' with 'aim', indicating a specific goal; 'decrease' is replaced by 'minimize', implying a focus on achieving the smallest possible amount.

work to diminish

Replaces 'strive' with 'work', highlighting effort; 'decrease' is replaced by 'diminish', suggesting a gradual reduction.

seek to lessen

Substitutes 'strive' with 'seek', focusing on the pursuit of a goal; 'decrease' is replaced by 'lessen', implying a reduction in intensity or degree.

try to curtail

Replaces 'strive' with 'try', suggesting an attempt; 'decrease' is replaced by 'curtail', indicating a restriction or limitation.

make efforts to abate

Replaces 'strive' with 'make efforts', focusing on active steps; 'decrease' is replaced by 'abate', suggesting a reduction in something negative like a nuisance.

attempt to mitigate

Replaces 'strive' with 'attempt', indicating a trial; 'decrease' is replaced by 'mitigate', suggesting making something less severe.

look to lower

Substitutes 'strive' with 'look', indicating anticipation; 'decrease' is replaced by 'lower', suggesting a reduction in level or quantity.

be committed to cutting

Replaces 'strive' with 'be committed', emphasizing dedication; 'decrease' is replaced by 'cutting', suggesting a sharp reduction.

focus on reducing

Replaces 'strive' with 'focus', indicating a point of emphasis; 'decrease' is replaced by 'reducing', a synonym.

FAQs

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

Use "strive to decrease" to express a concerted effort to reduce something. For example, "We "strive to decrease" our environmental impact through sustainable practices."

What are some alternatives to "strive to decrease"?

You can use alternatives such as "aim to reduce", "work to lessen", or "endeavor to minimize" depending on the context.

Is "strive to decrease" formal or informal?

While not strictly informal, "strive to decrease" can sometimes sound less polished than alternatives like "seek to reduce" in formal or business writing.

What's the difference between "strive to decrease" and "aim to reduce"?

"Strive to decrease" suggests a dedicated and ongoing effort, while "aim to reduce" indicates a specific goal or objective. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.