a certain increment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a certain increment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific, but not precisely defined, increase or addition in a quantity or value. Example: "The project requires a certain increment in funding to proceed to the next phase."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

First, the design variables are discretized with a certain increment that depends on the required accuracy, and all the values of physical parameters (used as object functions) are calculated for the discrete values of design variables.

Composite Structures

A certain increment in the expression of IL1 β was also seen after 48 h.

Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy

LVT 1 2 and LVT 1 1 resulted in a certain increment of BALF neutrophils compared with ctr mice.

Critical Care

The rotational search works by explicitly rotating the ligand protein around each of its three Cartesian angles by a certain increment (15 degrees in this study).

Advances and Applications in Bioinformatics and Chemistry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In our estimation procedure, we use windows where is chosen in a discrete set with certain increments,.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Software is, you know, in certain increments, you can add to.

Forbes

In fact, Kumar et al. [13] observed that material damage/failure initiates when the local plastic strain reaches a critical value, and the material strength declines linearly with plastic strain to zero over a certain plastic strain increment.

Nanoscale Research Letters

In the energy algebra, each operator, representing a structural feature, is interpreted as a function adding a certain free energy increment to the energy of its embedded substructure(s).

BMC Biology

Moreover, it is evident that diminishing marginal utility is also a feature of the additional increments of pleasure a person may experience beyond a certain point; equal increments of pleasure will not necessarily add to the stockpile of happiness if a person has reached a saturation point.

SEP

Young forests show low increments per hectare and year which are increasing with age until a certain age where the increment is culminating and a further increasing age shows a decreasing increment.

Carbon Balance and Management

According to FAO, the net annual increment is defined as the average periodic increment of volume of all trees measured at a certain minimum Dbh, including the increment of trees which have been felled and excluding the increment of trees which have died during the reference period [62].

Carbon Balance and Management

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a certain increment", ensure the context makes it clear why the increment is not precisely defined. This implies there's a known increase, but the exact value is either irrelevant or yet to be determined.

Common error

Avoid using "a certain increment" when a precise value is available or necessary. Overusing vague language can make your writing seem less credible or intentionally evasive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain increment" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. According to Ludwig, it denotes a specific, yet undefined, quantity of increase. This construction introduces an element of vagueness while maintaining grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a certain increment" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to denote a specific, but undefined, increase. According to Ludwig, it serves to communicate the presence of an addition without specifying its exact quantity. While versatile enough for both scientific and general contexts, overuse can reduce clarity. Consider alternatives such as ""a particular increase"" or ""a specific addition"" for potentially more precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a particular increase

Emphasizes the specificity of the increase, but remains undefined in magnitude.

a specific addition

Highlights the additive nature and the defined quality, yet the quantity is not defined.

a given boost

Implies a known or predetermined increase, changing the context slightly.

a definite gain

Suggests a clear and measurable positive change, which slightly alters the nuance.

a marked rise

Highlights the noticeable nature of the increase. Slightly changes nuance to focus on impact.

a noticeable increase

Focuses on the perceptibility of the rise, adding a layer of observation.

a quantifiable growth

Emphasizes the measurable aspect of the increase, which slightly alters the meaning.

a measurable addition

Highlights the capability to measure the additive change, altering the focus.

a defined growth

Highlights the presence of rules that determines growth.

a positive adjustment

Highlights the result of a positive change.

FAQs

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

Use "a certain increment" when you want to refer to a specific increase or addition without specifying the exact amount. For example: "The budget allows for "a certain increment" in spending on research."

What are some alternatives to saying "a certain increment"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "a particular increase", "a specific addition", or "a noticeable increase".

Is it better to be specific instead of using "a certain increment"?

While specificity is often preferred, "a certain increment" is useful when the exact amount is unknown, variable, or unimportant for the current discussion. If precision is necessary, provide exact figures.

What does "a certain increment" imply about the level of detail provided?

Using "a certain increment" suggests that while there is an increase, the precise amount isn't crucial for understanding the main point. The focus shifts from the exact value to the fact that an increase exists.