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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
a higher decline in
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "a higher decline in" is not correct and can be considered redundant in written English.
The term "higher" implies an increase, while "decline" indicates a decrease, creating a contradiction. Example: "There was a higher decline in sales this quarter compared to last quarter."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
2 human-written examples
They expect that the slowdown will cause a higher decline in imports than the demand for U.S.-made goods, although both are expected to decline sharply.
News & Media
When we classified PLWH according to the HA they received care, HA 5 was the only region that experienced the highest increase in mortality rate (62.99; 19 % increase) and a higher decline in life expectancy at age 20 years (17.35; 11 % decrease).
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
57 human-written examples
Presence of ATA was associated with a higher decline rate in FVC in this time period (P = 0.022, RC = -2.49, CI = -4.62 to -0.36).
Only ATA, however, was associated with lower serial FVC levels as well as with a higher decline rate in FVC at 3-year follow-up.
This shows that as the children grew older, those who lived >5 km networked distance had a much higher decline in their survival probability when compared to those who lived <5 km away.
Science
The results also show that exposing only the beams to fire results in a higher decline of the fire resistance, compared to exposing only the columns to fire.
The average of the entire European Union was characterised by a relatively high decline in the standardised mortality rate for cerebrovascular diseases, reaching 31.5%.
Science
Anti-Scl-70 antibodies have also been found in correlation with RLD [ 63] and with a higher rate of decline in PFT [ 64], although this association is not universal [ 37, 46].
Both mean allele number and expected heterozygosity showed a non-linear pattern, with a higher rate of decline in genetic variability between generations 3 and 14.
Science
We also found that persistent delirium during early hospitalisation was associated with a higher risk for decline in discharge status, even after adjusting for important covariates.
Science
Similarly, our study did not indicate that low baseline PFT parameters predicted a higher rate of decline in FVC on subsequent visits.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid using the phrase "a higher decline in" as it combines contradictory terms. Instead, opt for phrases like "a greater decrease in" or "a larger drop in" to accurately convey a more significant reduction.
Common error
Be mindful of combining terms that create logical inconsistencies. Using "higher" with "decline" is contradictory. Ensure your phrasing accurately reflects the intended meaning of a more significant decrease.
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "a higher decline in" is intended to function as a descriptive modifier, indicating a more significant decrease. However, Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect because of the contradictory nature of "higher" and "decline".
Frequent in
Science
50%
News & Media
50%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "a higher decline in" might seem intuitive, it's flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect due to the contradictory nature of "higher" and "decline". The intended meaning is to express a more significant decrease, but it's best to use alternative phrases like "a greater decrease in" or "a larger drop in" to avoid confusion and maintain grammatical accuracy. Although examples exist across news and scientific domains, clarity and correctness should always be prioritized in writing.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
a greater decrease in
Replaces "decline" with "decrease" and "higher" with "greater", maintaining the sense of a more significant reduction.
a larger drop in
Substitutes "decline" with "drop" and "higher" with "larger", indicating a substantial fall.
a steeper reduction in
Replaces "decline" with "reduction" and "higher" with "steeper", emphasizing the rate of decrease.
a more significant decrease in
Uses "significant" to describe the magnitude of the decrease, offering a more formal tone.
an increased drop in
Emphasizes the increase in the magnitude of the drop.
a faster rate of decline in
Focuses on the speed at which the decline is occurring.
a more pronounced decrease in
Highlights that the decrease is more noticeable or distinct.
a substantial fall in
Uses "substantial" to underscore the considerable size of the fall.
a considerable reduction in
Indicates that the reduction is noteworthy and significant in size.
a marked decrease in
Highlights that the decrease is easily noticeable or evident.
FAQs
What is wrong with the phrase "a higher decline in"?
The phrase "a higher decline in" is considered grammatically incorrect because "higher" implies an increase, while "decline" indicates a decrease. The two words contradict each other.
What can I say instead of "a higher decline in"?
You can use alternatives like "a greater decrease in", "a larger drop in", or "a steeper reduction in" depending on the specific context.
Which is correct, "a higher decline in" or "a greater decline in"?
"A greater decline in" is the more appropriate phrase. Using "higher" to modify "decline" creates a contradiction, whereas "greater" accurately describes the magnitude of the decrease.
Is "a higher decline in" ever appropriate?
No, the phrase "a higher decline in" is generally considered incorrect due to the conflicting nature of the words "higher" and "decline". It is always better to use a different phrasing to express the intended meaning of a significant decrease.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested