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ReDSanchous Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
The difference between cut down and cut down on
Can anyone tell me the difference between cut down and cut down on? I have written a few exmaples below so that you can understand what I mean:
-She has cut down the article to 1,000 words.
-How can you cut down the risk of cancer?
-These improvements will cut down on traffic noise.
When should I use the preposition 'on' and when not?
P.S. I don't mean such a meaning of this phrasal verb as "to start doing less of something".
-She has cut down the article to 1,000 words.
-How can you cut down the risk of cancer?
-These improvements will cut down on traffic noise.
When should I use the preposition 'on' and when not?
P.S. I don't mean such a meaning of this phrasal verb as "to start doing less of something".
Top answer
Hello ReDS I would say that 'cut down' means 'reduce', but 'cut down on' means 'reduce the quantity of'. Thus you 'cut down' your sugar intake, but you 'cut down on' sugar. ' Can anyone else think of any other differences?
- Hello ReDS I would say that 'cut down' means 'reduce', but 'cut down on' means 'reduce the quantity of'.
- Thus you 'cut down' your sugar intake, but you 'cut down on' sugar.
- ' Can anyone else think of any other differences?
- MrP
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4 Answers
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Hello ReDS
I would say that 'cut down' means 'reduce', but
'cut down on' means 'reduce the quantity of'.
Thus you 'cut down' your sugar intake, but you 'cut down
on' sugar.
'Cut down on' seems more likely to be associated with a
negative attitude towards the thing to be reduced, but this
isn't always the case:
'I'm cutting down on my dr
I would say that 'cut down' means 'reduce', but
'cut down on' means 'reduce the quantity of'.
Thus you 'cut down' your sugar intake, but you 'cut down
on' sugar.
'Cut down on' seems more likely to be associated with a
negative attitude towards the thing to be reduced, but this
isn't always the case:
'I'm cutting down on my dr
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Thank you so much for the explanation. I got it. I don't think that there are some other differences but I might be mistaken.
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Here is another cut....I "came across".CUT OUT!!! I've understood the difference between the two first. What about "cut out "?. When to use it?
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Cut out means to stop completely.
I'm going to cut down on cream cakes - I won't eat so many.
I'm going to cut out cream cakes - no more cream cakes.
'Cut it out!' an order to stop doing something with an element of warning involved (...or else...) eg. mother to whining child.
I'm going to cut down on cream cakes - I won't eat so many.
I'm going to cut out cream cakes - no more cream cakes.
'Cut it out!' an order to stop doing something with an element of warning involved (...or else...) eg. mother to whining child.
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