Grammar fix

bridge the gap

reduce a difference

to reduce or remove the difference between two things, groups, or ideas

collocationC1occasional

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

Online courses can help bridge the gap between rich and poor schools.education
Good public transport helps bridge the gap between people who can afford cars and those who can't.IELTS Part 3

Pattern: bridge the gap (between A and B)

WrongWe need to bridge the gap of rich and poor.

RightWe need to bridge the gap between rich and poor.

'Bridge the gap BETWEEN' two things.

Patternbridge the gap (between A and B)

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff The programme aims to diminish the disparity between the groups.

Natural The programme helps bridge the gap between the two groups.

'Bridge the gap' is the natural collocation; 'diminish the disparity' is policy-paper formal.

Words that usually travel with it.

Figurative — closing a difference, not building a real bridge.