Grammar fix
tone down
make something less extreme or forceful (e.g. language, behaviour, appearance)
To make something less strong, less forceful, or less noticeable, especially to avoid offending people or to suit a situation.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
He had to tone down his criticism so he wouldn't offend anyone at the meeting.
In my opinion, politicians should tone down their language during debates to encourage more respectful discussions.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: Can you tone down it?
Say: Can you tone it down?
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'tone it down'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Tone down' is the everyday verb for softening something; 'moderate the forcefulness' is formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
tone down + intensity
- the language
- the colours
- your tone
- the rhetoric