SheltieBites Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Increase/Decrease/Reduce
"More traffic lights would decrease (the number of) traffic accidents."
"More traffic lights would reduce (the number of) traffic accidents."
"Less traffic regulations would increase (the number of) traffic accidents."
"Higher tuition would decrease (the number of) students applying to university."
"He is going around trying to increase (the number of) business contacts."
"Careful proofreading would decrease (the number of) grammatical errors in published articles."
"Careful proofreading would reduce (the number of) grammatical errors in published articles."
When do I need "the number of" when using "increase", "decrease", and "reduce"?
"More traffic lights would reduce (the number of) traffic accidents."
"Less traffic regulations would increase (the number of) traffic accidents."
"Higher tuition would decrease (the number of) students applying to university."
"He is going around trying to increase (the number of) business contacts."
"Careful proofreading would decrease (the number of) grammatical errors in published articles."
"Careful proofreading would reduce (the number of) grammatical errors in published articles."
When do I need "the number of" when using "increase", "decrease", and "reduce"?
Top answer
" I see no real need for 'the number of' in any of those. I don't think you need it unless confusion ensues. The hospital must reduce the number of beds for smaller patients.
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"More traffic lights would decrease (the number of) traffic accidents."
"More traffic lights would reduce (the number of) traffic accidents."
"Fewer traffic regulations would increase (the number of) traffic accidents."
"Higher tuition would decrease (the number of) students applying to university."
"He is going around trying to increase (the number of) business contacts."
"More traffic lights would reduce (the number of) traffic accidents."
"Fewer traffic regulations would increase (the number of) traffic accidents."
"Higher tuition would decrease (the number of) students applying to university."
"He is going around trying to increase (the number of) business contacts."
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So, "the number of" is usually redundant except in a few extreme cases?
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a The new program would decrease (the number of) student loan payments."
b The new program would reduce (the number of) student loan payments."
It must be that "the number of" is also redundant in a) and b).
b The new program would reduce (the number of) student loan payments."
It must be that "the number of" is also redundant in a) and b).
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