alleviate our use of plastic

[alpacinou]

Hello.

Have I used "alleviate" and "contaminate" correctly and naturally? What do you think about this?

Plastic waste has a detrimental impact on the environment as it contaminates nature. So, I think we must alleviate our use of plastic.

 

[Tarheel]

You could say:

We should reduce the use of plastic.

 

[alpacinou]

I know but I want to see if that works in a formal context.

 

[Tarheel]

Two things. One, I am not sure what you are trying to say there. (That's why I suggested "reduce".) Two, my suggestion is perfectly good in a formal context.

 

[alpacinou]

'Alleviate' does not work.

Why?

 

[emsr2d2]

Because "alleviate" means "make less severe". We don't describe our use of plastic as severe; consequently we can't alleviate it.

 

[alpacinou]

What about minimize?

Is this completely okay?

Plastic waste has a detrimental impact on the environment as it contaminates nature. So, I think we must minimize our use of plastic.

 

[GoodTaste]

Is "mess up" used correctly? Is my sentence okay?

Plastic waste messes up nature and we must use less of it.

The top definition for "mess" as a verb is "to make it dirty or untidy". So I am trying to use "mess up" here.

 

[tedmc]

Plastic waste is bad for the environment as it is difficult to dispose of and it takes a long time to decompose. It is also a hazard to wildlife, so its use must be minimised.

 

[Tdol]

I know but I want to see if that works in a formal context.

You can use reduce in a formal context.

 

[alpacinou]

* Plastic waste has a detrimental impact on the environment as it contaminates nature. So, I think we must minimize our use of plastic.

Is that okay?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

What about minimize?

Is this completely okay?

Plastic waste has a detrimental impact on the environment as it contaminates nature. So, I think we must minimize our use of plastic.

Reduce and minimize are both better than alleviate.

I prefer reduce because it's more concise.

 

[tedmc]

Reduce and minimize are both better than alleviate.

I prefer reduce because it's more concise.

I think "minimize" is to reduce to a greater degree to an absolute minimum.

Instead of "contaminate nature", I would say "pollute the (natural) environment". "Nature" is too all-encompassing.

 

[Tdol]

I agree that the environment works better.