reduce the risk of vs reduce a risk of

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Reduce the risk of' is more commonly used and refers to a specific risk that is being decreased. 'Reduce a risk of' is less common and implies a more general or unspecified risk that is being lowered.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 962 views

reduce the risk of

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used when referring to a specific risk that is being decreased or mitigated.

Examples:

Regular exercise can help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head injuries.
Taking precautions can reduce the risk of accidents.
Eating a balanced diet can reduce the risk of developing certain diseases.
Installing a security system can reduce the risk of burglary.

Alternatives:

minimize the risk of
mitigate the risk of
lower the risk of
diminish the risk of
lessen the risk of

reduce a risk of

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in English.

This phrase is used when referring to a more general or unspecified risk that is being decreased.

Examples:

Taking vitamin C can reduce a risk of catching a cold.
Following safety guidelines can reduce a risk of accidents.
Proper maintenance can reduce a risk of equipment failure.
Regular check-ups can reduce a risk of health problems.
Training programs can reduce a risk of employee turnover.

Show examples from the web [+]

This reduces the risk of a blood clot forming and helps prevent another heart attack or stroke.
Walking for a half an hour a day reduces the risk of anxiety, arthritis, depression, things like dementia and diabetes.
You may need to stop taking these tablets 4 to 6 weeks before the operation, to reduce the risk of a blood clot.
This is the safest way to reduce the risk of a much more serious and longer delay threatening the credibility of our cooperation with South Africa.
The marketing ban, linked to the acceptance at OECD level and excluding any cut-off date, reduces the risk of a challenge under the disputes settlement system of WTO.
Prevention the use of appropriate designs of materials (4.2.5.1) with a low flammability reduces the risk of a starting of a fire.
We believe that if we could fill these 10 gaps, we have a chance to help really reduce the risk of a pandemic.
Improving early diagnosis and the effective management of atrial fibrillation would reduce the risk of a European stroke epidemic.
A high intake of fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of a large number of diseases and prevents overweight.
However, the concentration of thioglycolic acid and its salts in those products is safe up to 11 % when applied on eyelashes by a professional which reduces the risk of a direct contact with the eyes.
If you don't remember anything else from this talk, three grams a day of fish oil can reduce your risk of a heart attack and sudden death by 50 to 80 percent.
A high intake of fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of a large number of diseases and prevents overweight and severe overweight.
This would help to reduce the risk of a build-up of demand-induced inflationary and current account pressures, as well as safeguard the fiscal reform process and the current positive momentum of the economy.
An increased intake of fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of a large number of diseases and prevents overweight and severe overweight.
The presented document reduces the risk of a monopolistic position by the largest airports and this will help to soften the environmental, infrastructural and transport problems facing large airports and the cities located near them.
Turning to the cross-border trade in electricity, we aim to achieve a 10% share between networks, which would substantially reduce the risk of a black-out for our consumers.
reduce to a minimum the risk of the belt's slipping when worn correctly;
Operators should reduce the risk of a major accident as low as reasonably practicable, to the point where the cost of further risk reduction would be grossly disproportionate to the benefits of such reduction.
Whereas the purpose of a trouser codend is to reduce the risk of a total loss of catches when fishing on rough grounds;
To contribute to the development of national capacities of States Parties to reduce the risks of a terrorist attack with chemicals and to improve their response to requests for assistance in case of use or threat of use of chemicals.

Alternatives:

reduce the risk of
lower a risk of
mitigate a risk of
lessen a risk of
diminish a risk of

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reduce the risk of vs reduce a risk of