save space — use less space
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to arrange things or use something in a way that leaves more room and avoids wasting space
Say it like a native
Textbook This design economises on the utilisation of available space.
Native This design saves space.
'Economises on the utilisation of space' is jargon; 'saves space' is plain.
Pattern: save space (by) [verb-ing/noun]
In use
- We bought folding chairs to save space in our small apartment.daily life
- In my opinion, using digital documents instead of paper can save space in offices and make it easier to find information.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ It saves a lot of spaces.
✓ It saves a lot of space.
'Space' (room) is uncountable here — no '-s'.
Common collocations
save space— save space, to save space, space-saving, free up space
Don't confuse it
'Make space' usually means to create an empty area, while 'save space' means to avoid using too much room.