a few decrease

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a few decrease' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to express that a certain number has decreased or diminished to a small degree. For example, "The number of participants in the event decreased by a few."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As a result, the proliferation and migration of LoVo-shRNAPTBP2 cells changed little, this demonstrated that, although the SFPQ protein was present, MALAT1 could not regulate the biological function by binding to SFPQ and releasing more SFPQ-detached PTBP2 from the SFPQ/PTBP2 complex, because of quite a few decrease of total SFPQ/PTBP2 complex resulted from the knockdown of total PTBP2 protein.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Physical exam shows the presence of a few decreasing residual subcutaneous nodules and vitiligo in the upper extremities.

Cancer Management and Research

The sections of the rat paws without treatment exhibit a few significant decrease of the inflammatory infiltrate after the injury, presenting moderate injury at 24 h, mild to moderate injury at 48 h, and mild injury at 72 h.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

However, the magnitude of the second largest event in a short period of a few days decreases gradually after March 27 , 2011 forming a magnitude gap.

Earth, Planets and Space

The size of the hot zone, which was of the order of a few cm, decreased upon cooling of the vessel.

Chemical Engineering Science

In contrast, transcripts of a few genes decreased in abundance 2 hours post inoculation.

BMC Plant Biology

Subsequent analyses found that delaying DMARD therapy by only a few months decreased the ability of the monotherapy to induce remission [ 20].

Arthritis Research and Therapy

When young black poplar trees were simultaneously attacked by late instar L. dispar and L. populi caterpillars the emission of a few compounds decreased in comparison to trees infested by late instar L. dispar alone.

BMC Plant Biology

Does having a few drinks help decrease your shakiness or tremors?

The New York Times - Health

Further, we conducted a survey of SO users to report on a few reasons to decrease one's activity.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Increasing the temperature a few degrees would decrease the viscosity (Hayyan et al. 2013), which leads to a better mass transport.

Bioresources and Bioprocessing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few decrease", ensure the context clearly indicates what is decreasing and the relative significance of that decrease.

Common error

Avoid using "a few decrease" when the actual decrease is substantial or significant. Reserve it for situations where the reduction is genuinely minor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few decrease" functions as a noun phrase that quantifies a reduction. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It typically modifies another noun, specifying the extent of the reduction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

29%

Wiki

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few decrease" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to describe a small reduction or decline. Ludwig AI validates this assessment. It is seen frequently in scientific and news-related contexts, suggesting its applicability across both technical and general domains. While precise language is sometimes preferred in formal writing, "a few decrease" is generally considered acceptable. When using this phrase, it is essential to provide context about what is decreasing and whether that change is significant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A slight reduction

Emphasizes the small extent of the decrease.

A minimal decline

Highlights that the decrease is barely perceptible.

A small dip

Suggests a temporary and minor decrease.

A modest drop

Implies a decrease that is within reasonable limits.

A fractional decrease

Indicates that the decrease involves a very small fraction or percentage.

A marginal reduction

Suggests that the decrease is just above the margin of significance.

A tiny lessening

Emphasizes the extremely small scale of the decrease.

A bit less

Indicates a reduction in quantity or amount.

A shade lower

Suggests a very subtle or barely noticeable decrease.

A touch diminished

Implies a slight weakening or reduction in quality or intensity.

FAQs

How can I use "a few decrease" in a sentence?

You can use "a few decrease" to describe a slight reduction in something. For example, "After the new policy, there was "a few decrease" in reported incidents."

What are some alternatives to "a few decrease"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a slight reduction", "a minimal decline", or "a modest drop", depending on the context.

Is "a few decrease" formal or informal?

The phrase "a few decrease" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but consider using more precise language like "a small percentage decrease" in highly formal or scientific writing.

What's the difference between "a few decrease" and "a slight decrease"?

While similar, "a few decrease" implies the reduction is quantifiable by a small number, whereas "a slight decrease" is more general and indicates a small degree of reduction without necessarily being countable.