a decreasing amount

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a decreasing amount" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a quantity that is diminishing over time or in a specific context. Example: "The company reported a decreasing amount of revenue over the last quarter, indicating potential financial issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

A small state with a decreasing amount of soldiers, Norway cannot solve the staffing crisis endemic in UN peacekeeping.

The Guardian - Opinion

Saunders predicted a lot more gaps as the high street struggles with a falling number of visitors with a decreasing amount of money in their pockets.

The Guardian - Business

With improved irrigation, a decreasing amount of rice is grown on fields where the crop relies totally on rainfall.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"There is not enough, and a decreasing amount, of subsidized housing in Yonkers," said Jon Shenk, executive director of the Cluster Housing Resource Center, a nonprofit housing advocacy group.

The New York Times

Ultimately it depends on the funder whether they are content with the transaction, yet it is undeniably part of a music culture using a decreasing amount of fiat money, and could further casualise music-making.

The Guardian - Music

Jeremy Bentham, too, began from the view that because most people get a decreasing amount of happiness from each successive addition to their income and wealth, the way to maximize the total happiness of a society is to distribute wealth and income equally.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Decreased PAH activity results in accumulation of phenylalanine and a decreased amount of tyrosine and other metabolites.

Encyclopedia Britannica

*The child is not drinking fluids, or is producing a decreased amount of urine.

The New York Times - Health

XPS spectra revealed a decreased amount of carbon on the surface of the plasma-treated sample.

Thin Solid Films

There is also a dip at 3,643 cm−1 due to a decreased amount of Ca(OH 2.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

The progression of Bentonite 1 is similar to Organoclay 1 but shows a decreased amount of bound endotoxin.

AMB Express

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a decreasing amount", ensure the context clearly indicates what is experiencing the reduction. For instance, specify "a decreasing amount of rainfall" or "a decreasing amount of funding".

Common error

Avoid using "a decreasing amount" without providing context or a specific unit of measure. Instead of saying "there was a decreasing amount", clarify with "there was a decreasing amount of water in the reservoir" or "a decreasing amount of available resources".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a decreasing amount" functions as a determiner phrase that modifies a noun. It specifies a quantity that is undergoing a reduction. Ludwig examples showcase its role in various contexts, such as describing resources, activities, or measurable substances. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

29%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a decreasing amount" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a quantity that is diminishing over time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is found across various contexts, particularly in science and news media, indicating its appropriateness for formal and neutral registers. When employing this phrase, ensure to provide clear context regarding what is decreasing. Alternatives such as "a diminishing quantity" or "a declining quantity" can be used for stylistic variation, although they may carry slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a diminishing quantity

Replaces 'decreasing' with 'diminishing' while keeping the core meaning intact. The emphasis is still on the gradual reduction.

a declining quantity

Substitutes 'decreasing' with 'declining', focusing on the downward trend in quantity.

a shrinking amount

Synonymous with 'decreasing', but may imply a more rapid or noticeable reduction.

a lessening amount

Emphasizes the process of becoming less. 'Lessening' is slightly less common than 'decreasing'.

a reduced quantity

Uses 'reduced' to indicate that the quantity is now smaller than before, but lacks the sense of ongoing change.

a dwindling amount

Suggests that the amount is shrinking and approaching nothing. Adds a sense of scarcity.

a smaller quantity

States that the quantity is less than before. The focus is on a static comparison rather than an ongoing decrease.

a lower quantity

Expresses that the quantity is inferior to a reference point, but does not express a progressive decline.

a drop in quantity

Uses a noun phrase to indicate a reduction. 'Drop' suggests a sudden or sharp decrease.

a downward trend in quantity

Focuses on the trend of decreasing quantity over time, rather than the amount itself.

FAQs

How can I use "a decreasing amount" in a sentence?

Use "a decreasing amount" to describe something that is reducing in quantity or size. For example: "There is "a decreasing amount" of available housing in the city center", or "The study showed "a decreasing amount" of pollution over the past decade".

What are some alternatives to "a decreasing amount"?

You can use alternatives such as "a diminishing quantity", "a declining quantity", or "a reduced quantity" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "decreasing amount" or "less amount"?

"Decreasing amount" is generally preferred in formal writing as it implies a trend or change over time. "Less amount" is grammatically acceptable but less common. For example: "There is "a decreasing amount" of rainfall each year" sounds better than "there is a less amount of rainfall each year".

What's the difference between "a decreasing amount" and "a decreasing number"?

"A decreasing amount" is used for things that can be measured but not counted as discrete units, like water or sand. "A decreasing number" is used for countable items, like people or cars. For example, "A decreasing amount of water was observed" versus "a decreasing number of students enrolled".