to decrease the likelihood of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to decrease the likelihood of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing actions or measures taken to reduce the chances of a particular event or outcome occurring. Example: "Implementing safety protocols is essential to decrease the likelihood of accidents in the workplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Prison does little to address these issues or to decrease the likelihood of recidivism.

The New York Times

"If a person is the victim of a sexual assault," he said, "there are things they can do to decrease the likelihood of it happening again.

The New York Times

The doctor said he increased the dosage of some medications and prescribed an additional medication to decrease the likelihood of blood clotting, "thus preventing restenosis".

The New York Times - Health

"The difficulty for me as a politician is what kind of slogan is it to say our aim should be to decrease the likelihood of civil war?

The Guardian

The police said that while laws can punish criminals after they commit home invasion, people can take some simple steps to decrease the likelihood of becoming victims, including always locking their doors, windows and cars.

The New York Times

If the missiles were in fact only randomly targeted (within a more general area), the British could simply disperse important installations to decrease the likelihood of their being hit.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Yet there is no FDA-approved treatment to decrease the likelihood of relapse in rehabilitated addicts.

Chemico-Biological Interactions

That would seem to decrease the likelihood of a statistically significant result.

Forbes

Also, despite the fact that his company could benefit from more sites adopting social, the sample size is large enough to decrease the likelihood of bias.

TechCrunch

The ε4-allele appears to decrease the likelihood of reaching EL among individuals of different ethnic/geographic origins.

Experimental Gerontology

Technologies capable of achieving regulatory limits designed to decrease the likelihood of invasion include onboard ballast water management systems.

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to decrease the likelihood of", ensure the sentence clearly identifies the specific action or measure being taken and the outcome it aims to prevent. For example, instead of saying "Actions were taken to decrease the likelihood of problems", specify "Implementing regular maintenance checks helps to decrease the likelihood of equipment failure".

Common error

Avoid using "to decrease the likelihood of" in vague or general contexts where the specific outcome is not clear. Instead of saying "Efforts were made to decrease the likelihood of issues", specify what issues are being addressed and how, such as "Providing additional training aims to decrease the likelihood of errors in data entry".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to decrease the likelihood of" functions as an infinitive phrase that introduces a purpose. It typically modifies a verb, explaining the intention behind an action—namely, to reduce the probability of a particular outcome. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to decrease the likelihood of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate an action's purpose in reducing the probability of a specific outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability across different writing styles. Predominantly found in scientific and news-related contexts, this phrase serves to explain the rationale behind actions aimed at prevention and risk mitigation. While variations such as "to reduce the probability of" or "to minimize the chance of" offer stylistic alternatives, it's crucial to maintain clarity by specifying the exact action and intended outcome. Avoiding overly broad applications will enhance the precision and impact of your writing. In summary, this phrase is a versatile tool for expressing preventive intent in both formal and neutral settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to reduce the probability of

Changes from 'likelihood' to 'probability', offering a more statistical connotation.

to minimize the chance of

Replaces 'decrease the likelihood' with 'minimize the chance', using simpler vocabulary.

to lessen the risk of

Substitutes 'likelihood' with 'risk', emphasizing potential negative outcomes.

to mitigate the possibility of

Uses 'mitigate' and 'possibility' for a more formal and technical tone.

to diminish the prospect of

Employs 'diminish' and 'prospect' to convey a reduced expectation of something happening.

to curtail the odds of

Replaces 'decrease the likelihood' with 'curtail the odds', using a slightly more informal expression.

to lower the incidence of

Shifts focus to reducing the rate or frequency of occurrence.

to avert the danger of

Highlights preventing a potential threat or hazard.

to preclude the opportunity for

Focuses on preventing the possibility of an opportunity arising.

to forestall the eventuality of

Uses 'forestall' and 'eventuality' for a more proactive sense of prevention.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "to decrease the likelihood of" for variety?

You can use alternatives like "to reduce the probability of", "to minimize the chance of", or "to lessen the risk of" depending on the specific context.

Is "to decrease the likelihood of" formal or informal?

The phrase "to decrease the likelihood of" is generally considered suitable for both formal and neutral contexts. More informal options might include "to lower the chances of".

What's the difference between "to decrease the likelihood of" and "to increase the likelihood of"?

"To decrease the likelihood of" indicates an action aimed at reducing the probability of something happening, whereas "to increase the likelihood of" suggests actions intended to make something more probable.

How do I use "to decrease the likelihood of" in a sentence?

The phrase is typically followed by the specific event or outcome you are trying to prevent. For example, "Regular exercise helps to decrease the likelihood of heart disease".