try to reduce

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'try to reduce' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used when suggesting an action which should be taken in order to bring about a benefit or improvement. For example, "Let's try to reduce our energy consumption by switching off unnecessary lights and appliances".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We try to reduce these barriers.

The Guardian

I can try to reduce, though".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We try to reduce our waste through recycling and composting.

Stanford University

We try to reduce stress by providing information".

The New York Times

Everyone's advice (including Atkins') is to try to reduce it.

The Guardian

So I take breaks and try to reduce my stress.

The Guardian

Even when regulators try to reduce prices, firms can benefit.

Harvard Business Review

What should individuals do to try to reduce pollution?

The New York Times

It will continue to try to reduce borrowings.

The Economist

Information exchange is one important aspect of how political actors try to reduce uncertainties and conflicts.

Land Use Policy

For this reason, most food-processing steps try to reduce the enzymatic activity.

Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "try to reduce", ensure the context clearly indicates what you are attempting to diminish or lessen. Be specific about the object of reduction for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "try to reduce" without specifying what needs to be reduced. For example, instead of saying "We need to try to reduce", specify "We need to try to reduce our carbon footprint."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "try to reduce" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing intention or purpose. It indicates an attempt to lessen or diminish something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "try to reduce" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that communicates the intention to lessen or diminish something. Ludwig AI validates its widespread applicability across diverse contexts. As seen in the examples, it appears in news, academic papers, and scientific articles, reflecting its versatility. While "try to reduce" is generally appropriate, ensure clarity by specifying what you are attempting to reduce. For alternative expressions, consider "attempt to decrease" or "seek to minimize", depending on the desired nuance. This phrase can improve your writing by signaling proactive efforts to improve a situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempt to decrease

Replaces "try" with "attempt", suggesting a more formal or determined effort, and replace "reduce" with "decrease" which means to become or make less.

seek to minimize

Substitutes "try" with "seek", indicating a deliberate effort, and replaces "reduce" with "minimize", implying an effort to bring something to the lowest possible level.

aim to diminish

Replaces "try" with "aim", suggesting a directed intention, and substitutes "reduce" with "diminish", which focuses on lessening in importance or impact.

work to alleviate

Changes "try" to "work", implying sustained effort, and substitutes "reduce" with "alleviate", which means to make suffering or a problem less severe.

strive to curtail

Replaces "try" with "strive", indicating a strong effort, and substitutes "reduce" with "curtail", which focuses on restricting or limiting something.

endeavor to lessen

Substitutes "try" with "endeavor", indicating a serious attempt, and replaces "reduce" with "lessen", focusing on making something smaller or less significant.

take steps to cut back

Replaces the entire phrase with a more idiomatic expression, emphasizing concrete actions to reduce something.

make an effort to lower

Replaces "try" with "make an effort", emphasizing the action taken, and substitutes "reduce" with "lower", focusing on decreasing the quantity or value of something.

look to shrink

Changes "try" to "look", signifying investigation to take an action, and substitutes "reduce" with "shrink", which focusing on diminish in size, quantity, or range.

move to ease

Replaces "try" with "move", indicating an active shift towards a goal, and substitutes "reduce" with "ease", which means to alleviate pressure or difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "try to reduce" in a sentence?

Use "try to reduce" to express an attempt to lessen or diminish something. For example, "We should "try to reduce" waste by recycling".

What are some alternatives to "try to reduce"?

You can use alternatives like "attempt to decrease", "seek to minimize", or "aim to diminish" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "try to reduce" or "attempt to reduce"?

"Try to reduce" and "attempt to reduce" are both correct, but "attempt to reduce" may sound more formal or deliberate. The choice depends on the tone you want to convey.

What's the difference between "try to reduce" and "try to eliminate"?

"Try to reduce" suggests an effort to lessen something, while "try to eliminate" suggests an effort to completely remove something. The appropriate phrase depends on whether partial or complete removal is the goal.