a diminished number of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a diminished number of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a reduction in quantity or amount of something. Example: "Due to budget cuts, there is now a diminished number of staff members in the department."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

The drop in the District was driven by a diminished number of homeless families.

The Washington Post

With a proliferation of channels competing for a diminished number of total viewers, media companies have looked elsewhere for growth.

The New York Times

Also, our group (Lopez-Franco et al., 2016) observed a smaller percentage of immunostained matrix and a diminished number of positive nuclei against COMP in menisci from OA knees, compared to samples from partial meniscectomy (Fig. 5).

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

The school is currently operating with Afghan National Army soldiers positioned on its roof, with a diminished number of students and teachers and with the sound of fighting regularly audible nearby.

Vice

The school is currently operating with ANA soldiers positioned on its roof, with a diminished number of students and teachers, and with the sound of fighting regularly audible nearby.

Vice

Thus, while essentially all gene conversion tracts in the GFP-LacI control cells contained at least two mutations, acceleration of diversification by either tethered VP16 or HIRA was accompanied by a diminished number of nucleotide substitutions per tract.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The nongranulated appearance is caused by a diminished number and/or size of subcellular structures such as cyanophycin granules, gas vacuoles, and polyphosphate granules (Fig. 2c and e), while additional membranes are synthesized (Fredriksson & Bergman, 1997).

FEMS Microbiology Reviews

Similarly, Spo11 Gal/Gal ovaries were smaller than in wild type and showed a greatly diminished number of follicles.

BMC Genomics

Interestingly, these mutations in mitochondrial genes typically result in a glossy eye phenotype as a result of diminished number of cone and accessory cells that are responsible for secreting the lens [42].

Plosone

Moreover, a bone biopsy study reported diminished number of osteoblasts and a corresponding reduction in osteoclast number in patients with AIS [26], indicating disturbance in the bone metabolism as a primary change.

Plosone

From this point-of-view, the greatly diminished number of compartment transitions by some juvenile A and BALB mice could indicate that 24 h of social isolation prior to testing was insufficient to mediate an active exploratory response in a proportion of individuals from each strain.

Genes, Brain and Behavior

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a diminished number of", ensure that the noun it modifies is countable. For uncountable nouns, consider using "a diminished amount of".

Common error

Avoid using "a diminished number of" with uncountable nouns like water or sand. Instead, use "a diminished amount of" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a diminished number of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a countable noun to indicate a reduction in quantity. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of its grammatical correctness and the variety of examples provided.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a diminished number of" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a reduction in the quantity of countable items. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable. While not as frequent as alternatives like "a reduced number of", it's suitable for both neutral and somewhat formal contexts, particularly in scientific and news reporting. Remember to use "a diminished amount of" with uncountable nouns to maintain grammatical accuracy. The phrase effectively conveys a decrease, sometimes implying a gradual or concerning decline.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a reduced quantity of

Changes the focus to the quantity itself being reduced.

a smaller amount of

Replaces "number" with "amount", suitable for uncountable nouns.

a decreased quantity of

Uses "decreased" instead of "diminished", emphasizing the reduction.

a lower count of

Replaces "number" with "count", slightly less formal.

a depleted supply of

Focuses on the reduction affecting the available supply.

a dwindling quantity of

Suggests a gradual and continuous reduction.

a scarce quantity of

Emphasizes the resulting scarcity from the reduction.

a curtailed supply of

Highlights the act of limiting or restricting the supply.

a lessened amount of

Uses "lessened" to describe the reduction in amount.

a shrinkage in the number of

Uses the noun "shrinkage" to describe the reduction.

FAQs

How can I use "a diminished number of" in a sentence?

Use "a diminished number of" to indicate a reduction in the quantity of countable items. For example, "There was "a diminished number of" students attending the lecture today."

What's a more formal alternative to "a diminished number of"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "a reduced quantity of" or "a decreased amount of", depending on whether you're referring to countable or uncountable nouns.

Is it correct to say 'a diminished number of water'?

No, it's not correct. "Number" is used with countable nouns. For uncountable nouns like water, use "a diminished amount of".

What is the difference between "a diminished number of" and "a reduced number of"?

While both phrases indicate a decrease in quantity, "diminished" can imply a gradual or progressive reduction, whereas "reduced" simply indicates that a reduction has occurred. In most contexts, they are interchangeable, but ""a diminished number of"" might suggest a more significant or concerning decrease.