reduce-reduction-decrease

Hi there,

I don´t understand the difference between these three nouns above. For instance, in the following example:

There have been a reduction in the number of robberies in our area.

I don´t understand why they cannot be interchangeable. In these example only reduction is possible according the book, why cannot reduce or decrease be used in this context as well? They sound properly to me, any native help?


Thanks in advance!!!! and Merry Christmas and happy new year to you all!!!!

Season's greeting to you too!

First, reduce is a verb.
Second, it is true that reduction and decrease are synonyms. You can say There has been a reduction/decrease in the number of robberies in our area.

But if two words are synonyms, this does not necessarily mean that they are interchangeable. They are in this case, but generally it is a question of style, not grammar.

If would be of interest to know which book you are quoting from.

'Reduce' is not a noun, only a verb. 'Decrease' is both noun and verb, and fits perfectly in the above sentence. Are you sure the book says it's wrong? Often exercises give you a number of choices and you have to choose the best. If those were your three choices, 'reduce' is definitely wrong. Possibly someone might think there were reasons for preferring 'reduction' over 'decrease', but I think they're equally likely myself.

P.S. You should put the content of your question in your message, not just in the title.

Thank you so much to you both. The book is a student´s book to prepare for the First Certificate. With respect to reduce as a noun, I wrongly saw an entry of a reduce as noun in a dictionary or perhaps I mistook it for the word produce, which is both a verb and a noun. Now I know this is only a verb, it is easy for me to understand.

Regards.