trimming

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'trimming' is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of cutting or removing something. For example: "I gave the hedge a trimming to keep it looking neat."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Pop star Jamelia lost the plot, and was reduced to swigging Amaretto out of the bottle and (in a novel Bake Off twist) trimming her layer cake with scissors.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

All three are expected to be put to international tender as part of an asset-stripping drive aimed at trimming the twice-bailout country's monumental debt load.

The Guardian

When it comes to saving money, we all know that the more you can do early, the smoother the ride George Osborne With Osborne eager to enact tough measures as early as possible, the new chief secretary to the Treasury, Greg Hands, has started to ask departments whether they can find ways of trimming their 2015-16 plans to fast-track the three-year squeeze.

The Guardian - Business

Roux also calls for "baby salad onions" athough, in retrospect, after trimming 20 of them, I begin to suspect he really means baby onions of the sort sold for pickling.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Roll out again and lay in the bottom of your pie dish, trimming to fit.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

At least 107,000 families will be cut off payments with the effect of trimming some fat, as payments will now cut out around $94,000 in income.

The Guardian - Opinion

Politicians will be loth to do any such trimming when America's vulnerabilities, in almost every region of social policy, have been so ruthlessly exposed.

The Economist

Blue Circle sold off its interests in trimming turf in the 1990s and is currently subject to an agreed bid from Lafarge, a large and focused French cement maker.

The Economist

Neither is trimming the deficit is a priority.

The Economist

Mr Miliband expressed outrage at an announcement that the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition would be trimming the highest rate of income tax from 50% to 45%.

The Economist

Having trailed some radical moves, such as turning Deutsche into a standalone investment bank like Goldman Sachs, they ended up only tinkering exiting a few countries, trimming the investment bank, spinning off Postbank, its retail unit in Germany.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "trimming" in the context of finance or budgets, be specific about what is being reduced and the purpose of the reduction.

Common error

While "trimming" can mean cutting, it often implies a more careful or selective removal. Avoid using it when a general term like "cutting" is more appropriate to prevent misunderstanding.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "trimming" is acting as a present participle in continuous verb forms (e.g., "is trimming") or as a gerund, functioning as a noun (e.g., "trimming expenses"). Ludwig AI confirms its active use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Lifestyle

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "trimming" functions as a present participle or gerund, commonly used to describe the act of reducing, modifying, or refining something. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts. Its usage spans from news and media to formal business settings, with a neutral formality. As evidenced by numerous examples, "trimming" often implies a careful or strategic reduction, differentiating it from more general terms like "cutting". While "trimming" is a very common term, it's essential to consider the nuance it brings, implying a selective and refined approach to reduction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cutting back

Focuses specifically on reducing or decreasing something, often in a planned manner.

reducing

A broad term for making something smaller in size, amount, or degree.

pruning

Implies a careful and selective removal, often in the context of plants or organizations.

paring down

Suggests a gradual and thorough reduction to essential elements.

decreasing

A general term indicating a decline in quantity or intensity.

slashing

Implies a drastic and sudden reduction, often in costs or budgets.

curtailing

Suggests limiting or restricting something, often an activity or expense.

downsizing

Specifically refers to reducing the size of a workforce or organization.

refining

Implies improving something by removing unwanted elements or impurities.

modifying

Suggests making changes to something, often to improve or adapt it.

FAQs

How can I use "trimming" in a sentence?

You can use "trimming" to describe the act of cutting or reducing something, such as "trimming the fat" from a budget or "trimming the hedges" in a garden.

What are some alternatives to "trimming"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "reducing", "cutting back", or "pruning".

Is it correct to use "trimming" to describe reducing staff?

Yes, "trimming" can be used to describe reducing staff, often implying a selective or strategic reduction, but phrases like "downsizing" or "reducing workforce" may be more direct.

What's the difference between "trimming" and "cutting"?

"Trimming" often suggests a more precise or careful reduction, while "cutting" is a more general term for removing or reducing something. For instance, you might "trim" a budget to make strategic adjustments, but "cut" spending to reduce overall costs.