decrease or discourage

loverofenglish · Jan 20, 2016

Hi! Here is a question in my exercise book.
They started a campaign to ______________ smoking among teennagers.
A- decrease
B- discourage (key)
Why isn't A chosen, please?

Szkot · Jan 20, 2016

I (and Google) prefer 'reduce smoking' to 'decrease smoking' in your sentence. There are a number of threads on the differences between 'decrease' and 'reduce', though no clear answer. Some people dislike using 'decrease' with an object, as in 'decrease smoking'; perhaps the person who wrote your exercise book is one of them.

grassy · Jan 20, 2016

loverofenglish said:
Why isn't A chosen, please?

I think many campaigns discourage or encourage. Similarly, in his political campaign, a candidate encourages people to vote for him, not increases the number of his voters.

loverofenglish · Jan 20, 2016

Thank you.

decrease or discourage

loverofenglish

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Szkot

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grassy

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loverofenglish

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