tend to lessen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tend to lessen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a tendency or likelihood for something to decrease or diminish over time or under certain conditions. Example: "As the weather warms up, the severity of the winter storms tends to lessen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Yes, the nation has had a big recession, but recessions typically tend to lessen inequality rather than increase it.

The New York Times

Irene has winds over 39 miles an hour over an area about 500 miles wide, which would tend to create higher surges, but is moving relatively slowly at about 15 miles an hour, which would tend to lessen them.

The New York Times

A one standard-deviation increase in their trust measure is associated with a boost to trade between two countries of 30%, and a rise in bilateral foreign direct investment of as much as 75%.They also find that high education levels and more information tend to lessen these effects (no doubt by correcting misconceptions about unfamiliar countries).

The Economist

Economic well-being and social justice tend to lessen the likelihood of conflict and the employment of my ship and her Marines on board.

Forbes

But Epstein holds that enforcement of nondiscrimination norms and equality of opportunity would tend to lessen not promote people's long-run utility.

SEP

BBC weather presenter Kawser Quamer said gusts of 40mph to 50mph could be expected quite widely across Scotland over the rest of the weekend but the storm-force winds seen in the far north would tend to lessen in strength to gales.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

It also tended to lessen fine motor coordination.

The New York Times

It tends to lessen inequality among countries and increase it within them.

The Economist

It may seem like a paradox, but involving an audience in a theatrical performance tends to lessen its impact.

The New York Times

And while it may seem paradoxical, involving an audience in a theatrical performance tends to lessen its impact.

The New York Times

And when that happens, it tends to lessen the importance of what they're trying to accomplish".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tend to lessen", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the decrease or reduction. For example, "Increased security measures tend to lessen the risk of theft."

Common error

Avoid using "tend to lessen" when the outcome is guaranteed. The phrase implies a likelihood, not a certainty. For instance, instead of saying "Regular use of brakes tends to lessen speed to zero", say "Regular use of brakes will stop the car."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tend to lessen" functions as a verb phrase indicating a probability or inclination towards a decrease or reduction. As shown by Ludwig, it describes a likely but not guaranteed outcome. It combines the auxiliary verb "tend to" with the verb "lessen" to express a conditional or typical result.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tend to lessen" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that expresses a likelihood or probability of something decreasing. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and broad applicability across various contexts, from news reports to scientific publications. While alternatives like "usually decrease" or "often diminish" exist, "tend to lessen" provides a specific nuance of inclination rather than absolute certainty. When using this phrase, ensure the context supports the probabilistic nature of the statement to maintain clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

usually decrease

Replaces "tend to" with "usually", indicating a common occurrence, and "lessen" with "decrease" for a more direct term.

often diminish

Substitutes "tend to" with "often", implying frequent reduction, and "lessen" with "diminish" for a slightly more formal tone.

generally reduce

Replaces "tend to" with "generally" to show a typical pattern of reduction, and "lessen" with "reduce" for simplicity.

typically alleviate

Replaces "tend to" with "typically", suggesting a usual outcome, and "lessen" with "alleviate" to imply a reduction in severity or intensity.

commonly abate

Uses "commonly" instead of "tend to" to show commonality, and "abate" for "lessen" to indicate a reduction in force or degree.

are inclined to diminish

Replaces "tend to" with "are inclined to", indicating a predisposition to decrease, and keeps "diminish" as a synonym for "lessen".

have a propensity to reduce

Substitutes "tend to" with "have a propensity to", indicating a natural inclination, and "reduce" for "lessen" for clarity.

show a tendency to decrease

Rephrases "tend to" as "show a tendency to", emphasizing a visible trend, and uses "decrease" in place of "lessen".

exhibit a pattern of reduction

Replaces "tend to lessen" with a more descriptive phrase indicating an observed pattern of decrease.

are apt to mitigate

Uses "are apt to" instead of "tend to", indicating a likelihood, and "mitigate" for "lessen" to suggest a reduction in harmful effects.

FAQs

How can I use "tend to lessen" in a sentence?

Use "tend to lessen" to describe a likely decrease or reduction. For example, "Efforts to conserve water "tend to lessen" drought conditions."

What are some alternatives to "tend to lessen"?

Alternatives include "usually decrease", "often diminish", or "generally reduce", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "tend to lessen"?

Yes, "tend to lessen" is a grammatically correct phrase. It indicates a probability or inclination towards a decrease.

What's the difference between "tend to lessen" and "will lessen"?

"Tend to lessen" suggests a likelihood or probability, while "will lessen" implies a greater degree of certainty. For example, "Increased rainfall "tends to lessen" the impact of wildfires" suggests a likely outcome, while "This medicine will lessen your pain" expresses a more definitive result.