to ease

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to ease" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of making something less severe, difficult, or painful. Example: "The new policy was implemented to ease the burden on employees during the transition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They unlikely to ease soon.

The Economist

That's going to ease their transition".

The New York Times - Sports

Massage therapy to ease her tightened muscles.

The New York Times

America is not likely to ease off.

The Economist

Gradually, the strictures began to ease.

The New Yorker

You have to ease into these rhythms.

The New York Times

How to ease up on a clutch.

The New York Times - Magazine

But Emlen seemed to ease through it.

The New York Times - Sports

General Sisi jokes to ease the tension.

The New York Times

Then the backlog seemed to ease.

The New York Times

That would help to ease real suffering.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to ease", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being made easier or less severe. For example, "The government implemented new policies to ease the burden on small businesses."

Common error

Avoid using "to ease" in contexts where a stronger or more specific verb is needed. For example, instead of saying "to ease the problem", consider using "to solve the problem" if the goal is complete resolution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to ease" functions as an infinitive of purpose, indicating the reason or goal behind an action. It often introduces a clause that explains why something is done, aiming to make a situation less severe, difficult, or painful. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Wiki

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to ease" functions as an infinitive of purpose, commonly used to express the intention to alleviate or mitigate negative conditions. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and general writing. While maintaining a neutral register, it offers a versatile way to convey the goal of reducing difficulty, pain, or tension. When employing "to ease", ensure that the context clearly specifies what is being made easier or less severe. Alternatives like "to alleviate", "to relieve", and "to facilitate" can provide nuance depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to assist in easing

Adds a sense of support or aid in the process of easing.

in order to alleviate

Replaces "to ease" with a more formal and emphatic expression of purpose.

so as to mitigate

A more formal alternative, suggesting a reduction in severity.

to help facilitate

Focuses on making a process smoother or more efficient.

with the aim of reducing

Specifies the intention to lessen something, often used in formal contexts.

for the purpose of relieving

Highlights the goal of providing relief from something negative.

as a means to alleviate

Presents the action as a method for providing relief.

in an effort to lessen

Emphasizes the attempt to decrease something undesirable.

with a view to diminish

A formal expression indicating the intention to decrease or reduce.

for the sake of simplifying

Highlights the intention to make something less complex.

FAQs

How can I use "to ease" in a sentence?

Use "to ease" to indicate making something less severe or difficult. For example, "The massage helped "to ease the pain"" or "The new regulations are designed "to ease the transition"".

What are some alternatives to "to ease"?

Alternatives include "to alleviate", "to relieve", "to mitigate", "to reduce", and "to facilitate", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "to ease up" instead of "to ease"?

"To ease up" can be used, but it often implies a reduction in pressure or intensity, whereas "to ease" is more general and can refer to reducing difficulty or pain. Consider the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "to ease" and "to alleviate"?

Both phrases suggest reducing something negative, but "to alleviate" often implies a more significant or complete removal of the burden or problem than "to ease". For example, medicine alleviates symptoms, while a new policy might ease the burden on taxpayers.