weaken off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "weaken off" is not correct and not commonly used in written English.
It may be intended to convey the idea of something gradually losing strength or intensity, but the correct expression would be "weaken" or "weaken away." Example: "As the storm passed, the winds began to weaken off, leaving a calm in its wake."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Most official forecasts predict growth in 2010, and that being the case, the U.S. dollar will weaken off again," says Tihanyi.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

If I was symptomatic for a long period over time I found that I really weakened off and I'd notice the effects more.

The Guardian - Sport

And we need to sustain international opposition to any effort by Russia to weaken or break off Europe.

Huffington Post

Meanwhile, a recuperator can improve the overall system performance of a CDTPC system under the both design and off-design conditions, although the recuperator might weaken the off-design behavior of some key components.

Applied Thermal Engineering

The ice is fighting a losing battle along its edges, as warm ocean water eats into it and then mini-bergs break off the weakened front.

The Guardian

Here, we demonstrated methods for broaching these questions quantitatively, and in so doing uncovered the relevant finding that nonlinearities in selection can strengthen or weaken trade-offs.

eLife

Taking advantage of this fact, after he took strike, the Australians deliberately weakened the off side with two men placed about 10 m away from him.

Wikipedia

After maintaining peak intensity for 30 hours and moving a distance of about 75 miles (120 km), Carol weakened slightly off the coast of Georgia.

Wikipedia

When the area around the circle is weakened, peel off the top and cut it with a pair of shears or scissors.

WikiHow

Eventually he expects the energy grid to weaken or shut off entirely and, like Michael Brownlee, he told me he considers martial law or worse persecution possible as resources become scarcer.

The New York Times - Magazine

_________________________________ Samuel Lowe, TTIP campaigner for Friends of the Earth, told The Independent: "This is yet further evidence that the European Commission is more than willing to trade off, weaken, or delay much needed regulation and protections for the sake of completing this TTIP trade deal.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "weaken off" in formal writing. Instead, opt for more standard phrases like "weaken", "lose strength", or "diminish" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

While phrasal verbs can add color to writing, they're often unsuitable for formal contexts. "Weaken off" sounds casual; using "weaken" maintains a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weaken off" functions as a verb phrase, intended to describe a process of gradual reduction in strength, force, or intensity. However, Ludwig AI points out that this phrase is not considered standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "weaken off" aims to describe a reduction in strength, it's generally not considered standard English. Ludwig AI advises that it's better to use more grammatically correct alternatives such as ""weaken"", ""diminish"", or ""lose strength"", especially in formal writing. The phrase appears infrequently and mostly in informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lose strength

Focuses on the reduction of power or resistance.

decline

Indicates a gradual decrease or deterioration.

diminish

Emphasizes a reduction in size, extent, or importance.

fade away

Suggests a gradual disappearance or loss of intensity.

grow weaker

Highlights the process of becoming less strong over time.

lose intensity

Specifies a reduction in the degree of force or energy.

become diluted

Implies a weakening through the addition of something else.

ebb

Describes a receding or decline, often used for emotions or tides.

subside

Suggests a decrease in intensity or activity, especially after a peak.

degenerate

Implies a decline into a lower or worse state, often associated with moral or physical qualities.

FAQs

Is "weaken off" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "weaken off" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use alternatives such as "weaken", "diminish", or "lose strength".

What does it mean to "weaken off"?

While not grammatically standard, "weaken off" is sometimes used informally to suggest that something is gradually losing strength or intensity. However, clearer alternatives are generally preferred.

Are there situations where "weaken off" might be acceptable?

In very informal speech or certain regional dialects, "weaken off" might be used. However, in most writing and formal speaking situations, it's best to avoid this phrase and use a more standard alternative.

Which is the better choice, "weaken" or "weaken off"?

"Weaken" is the better choice in almost all contexts. It is grammatically correct and widely accepted, while "weaken off" is not.