a certain increase

USAGE SUMMARY

'a certain increase' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a particular rise in something, such as an increase in numbers or an increase in income. For example: "Over the past year, our company has seen a certain increase in profits."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

"We have seen in the first couple of months of this year a certain increase compared to the same period last year and... an increased complexity.

The Guardian

Leaving out the economies of India, China and the developing world, the treaty negotiators knew they were merely agreeing to a small reduction of a certain increase in atmospheric carbon concentrations.What we've done in the past isn't working.

The Economist

"The normal rule of thumb by which a certain increase in the gross domestic product would produce a concomitant increase in jobs does not appear to apply," Representative Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, declared in a speech before the House last month.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, the remove of the wall increased the failure overtopping rate, which means a certain increase of the failure criterion.

Applied Ocean Research

In conclusion, a certain increase in the accuracy can be achieved at a certain loss of the processing efficiency.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Likewise, a certain increase in the selectivity towards the gasoline fraction is observed at short residence times.

Catalysis Today

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Therefore, the IFT decreases with increasing salinity up to a certain salt concentration and then increases.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

But in the starting area of thermal-oxidative breakdown process (up to 280°C), there is a certain increased stability of PE-80/PE-100 weld comparing to the pure polyethylenes.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Bigger ads that feel more 'natural' than on smaller-size screens, in other words, which undoubtedly means more revenue from in-app display advertising, not to mention an almost certain increase of in-app purchases in most cases.

TechCrunch

Hence, they grow close to a regional southern distribution limit, and only a temperature increase to a certain degree increases their photosynthesis.

BMC Ecology

Eleven days postcamp there was a very large and almost certain increase in Yo-YoIR1 in the Australians compared with baseline measures at near sea level.

British Journal of Sports Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a certain increase", ensure the context provides some indication of the nature or scope of the increase, even if the exact amount is unspecified. This helps avoid vagueness and provides clarity to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "a certain increase" as a generic filler. If possible, quantify the increase or specify its nature to provide more meaningful information. For example, instead of saying "there was a certain increase in sales", specify "there was a 15% increase in sales" or "there was a noticeable increase in online sales".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain increase" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it refers to an unspecified but acknowledged rise. The word “certain” here means 'some' or 'definite', but does not quantify the increase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a certain increase" is a commonly used and grammatically correct noun phrase that indicates an unspecified rise or growth. As Ludwig AI validates, it serves to acknowledge a trend without providing precise details. It is considered neutral in register and is frequently found in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. While useful for conveying a general sense of increase, it's best practice to provide more specific information when possible to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a specific rise

Indicates a more defined or measurable increase than "a certain increase".

a noticeable growth

Focuses on the perceptibility of the increase, implying it is easily observed.

a measurable increment

Highlights the quantitative aspect of the increase, suggesting it can be precisely measured.

a particular augmentation

More formal and emphasizes a specific instance of enlargement.

a discernible upturn

Implies a positive change or improvement that is becoming apparent.

a marked expansion

Emphasizes the extent or scale of the increase, indicating a significant change.

a definite escalation

Suggests a gradual but steady increase, often in a negative context.

a predictable progression

Suggests an increase that follows a known or expected pattern.

a given augmentation

This implies that an increase is assumed or pre-determined.

a calculated escalation

Implies the increase was planned, expected, or desired.

FAQs

How can I use "a certain increase" in a sentence?

You can use "a certain increase" to refer to an unspecified but noticeable rise in something. For instance, "The new policy led to a certain increase in customer satisfaction."

What are some alternatives to "a certain increase"?

Alternatives include "a specific rise", "a noticeable growth", or "a measurable increment", depending on the level of detail you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "a certain increase" instead of a more precise measurement?

Use "a certain increase" when you want to acknowledge a rise without specifying the exact amount, either because the exact figure is unknown or because the precise number is not crucial to the point you're making.

Is "a certain increase" formal or informal?

"A certain increase" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal or scientific writing, it may be preferable to provide a specific measurement if possible.