Difference between deduct and reduce

[Alla]

Test No. incompl/advan-3 "Credit Card Holders", question 8

Credit card holders struggle very hard to ......... the amount they owe.

(a) reduce
(b) deduct
(c) curtail
(d) shorten

Test No. incompl/advan-3 "Credit Card Holders", answer 8

Credit card holders struggle very hard to reduce the amount they owe.

Correct answer: (a) reduce
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Why reduce? What difference between reduce and deduct, and when i can use all this words?
Thanks

[Alan]

Reduce means to make smaller. Deduct is to take one number from another.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Party Conferences

[flashjet]

Please describe the use of the word "curtail" with examples.

Thank you.

[Alan]

Hi flashjet,

This word means reduce in an abstract sense. If you want to tell someone not to be too enthusiastic, you are trying to curtail their enthusiasm.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Phrasal Verbs/run

[dragan]

Or for people in pain to curtail their daily activities as recommended by doctor.

[flashjet]

Or may be to describe the relief operations after a disaster as in saying "to curtail the effects of the disaster". Do correct me if I am wrong though.

[Andreana]

And what about the word curb? Is it similar to curtail? I understand it means hold back or restrain? Here is an example:

It's market rumors, and I can't curb market rumors.

Can also curtail rumours?
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[Alan]

Hi Andreana,

They both have the idea of reducing but my feeling is that curtail is more to do with shortening or putting a stop on something. I think that you could just say curtail rumours but I would be happier if you said curtail the spread of rumour. A bit vague, I'm afraid but the best I can do at the moment.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Saying It Twice