subtract

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "subtract" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb that means to take away or reduce something. For example, "I subtracted four slices of pizza from my plate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At its most extreme the ban's absurdity was exposed on the BBC comedy mock-news show The Day Today when Steve Coogan, playing a Sinn Féin spokesman, sucked in helium before an interview in order "to subtract credibility from his statements".

The Guardian

Subtract the roughly 150 GT we've already burned since then and that leaves about 850 GT for all sources of CO2.

The Guardian

Now we must subtract.

The Guardian - Sport

Multiplied by a huge user base, with only modest running costs to subtract, that could provide a handsome profit.For corporate messaging services, there is even more potential for charging such recurring fees, since businesses are already used to paying annual licensing and maintenance charges for the e-mail systems and other software that these services aim to replace.

The Economist

Two further refinements were necessary: to work out the third dimension distance from Earth and to subtract the effect of visible matter in order to be left with the distribution of dark matter pure and simple.The trick they used to perform the first refinement was a piece of basic optics.

The Economist

Auntie needs to learn how to subtract, as well as how to add.

The Economist

The firemen are demanding a 40% pay hike or else.In this section Of strikes and rumours of strikes Subtract rows, add sex Learning the hard way Bad faith His own man Getting stuffed Transfer or be damned Pork on the menu ReprintsAll of which has provoked comparisons with the "winter of discontent" of 1979, which helped to destroy the last Labour government and brought in Margaret Thatcher.

The Economist

But it does not make such a big contribution to the rest of the world's growth: whatever its growing imports add to the GDP of its trading partners, its burgeoning exports tend to subtract.

The Economist

When you subtract the cost of getting into extra accidents, the wage may not be as high as it seems.

The Economist

Novelty names like these are the typographical equivalents of wearing a rotating bow-tie: they attract attention but subtract credibility.

The Economist

Subtract these and public funds that they must repay, and banks have little capital left.Admitting that banks need help is one thing; acting swiftly to restore confidence in them quite another.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about financial matters, use "subtract" to indicate the process of deducting amounts, ensuring clarity and precision in your language.

Common error

Avoid using "subtract" when you mean to generally diminish or lessen something non-quantifiable. For example, instead of saying "This news will subtract from their happiness", consider "This news will diminish their happiness".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "subtract" is as a verb. It describes the action of taking away a quantity or value from another. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this usage is both correct and common in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "subtract" is a versatile term used to describe the action of taking away or reducing a quantity, value, or abstract concept. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across various contexts. It's most frequently encountered in news and media, as well as formal and business settings, indicating its utility in both reporting and analytical discussions. While alternatives like "deduct" and "take away from" exist, "subtract" maintains a balance between formality and accessibility, making it a reliable choice for clear and precise communication. Remember to use "subtract from" and avoid its misuse in non-quantitative situations to ensure accuracy in your writing. The frequent examples and high source quality reinforce its established place in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Deduct

Short form of "deduct from".

Deduct from

Implies a more formal or accounting-related context of taking away an amount.

Take away from

A more general and less formal way to express removing something.

Take from

Similar to take away from, but shorter.

Remove from

Indicates a broader sense of taking something away, not necessarily numerical.

Decrease by

Specifies the action of reducing a quantity by a certain amount.

Reduce by

Similar to 'decrease by' but can apply to non-numerical contexts as well.

Diminish by

Implies a gradual reduction.

Less

A concise way to indicate subtraction, often in informal contexts.

Discount

Refers to taking off a certain amount from the price.

FAQs

How do I use "subtract" in a sentence?

You can use "subtract" to describe the act of taking away an amount or quantity from another. For instance, "Subtract the expenses from the total revenue to calculate the profit".

What's the difference between "subtract" and "deduct"?

"Subtract" and "deduct" are often interchangeable, but "deduct" frequently carries a more formal or accounting-related connotation. You might "subtract" the cost of lunch from your daily budget, whereas you would "deduct" taxes from your paycheck.

Which is correct, "subtract from" or "subtract by"?

"Subtract from" is the correct phrasing. For example, "Subtract the smaller number from the larger one". "Subtract by" is not standard usage.

What can I say instead of "subtract" in a formal context?

In a formal context, you can use "deduct", "lessen", or "diminish" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.