a leveling off

USAGE SUMMARY

'a leveling off' is both correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a period of stability or as a way to describe a decline in something that has been increasing. For example, "The market saw a leveling off of profits after the first quarter of the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

"Even a leveling off shows a level of concern," said Charles Margulis, a spokesman at Greenpeace.

The New York Times

"We're seeing a leveling off, a stagnation, at the state legislative level and a decline in the number of women in statewide office other than governor," she said.

The New York Times

It's more of a leveling off".

The New York Times

"There seems to be a leveling off," he said.

The New York Times

"My gut feeling is we've got another three months of price war, then a leveling off".

The New York Times

"I think what we're seeing is more of a leveling off," Mr. Casey said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Previous studies have often reported a leveling-off of such effects at higher levels of plant species richness2.

Nature

Results suggest a leveling-off of economies-of-scale effects above 20 MW (electric) installations.

Biomass and Bioenergy

PAGE A18 CHILDHOOD OBESITY NUMBERS It is a sad commentary on the health of American youngsters that we are cheering a leveling-off of childhood obesity rates.

The New York Times

The decline was attributed to increased use of condoms and implantable contraceptives, as well as a leveling-off in sexual activity.

The New York Times

The biodegradation in the first phase was slow, got accelerated in the second phase, and showed a leveling-off in the third phase.

Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Modern Processes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a leveling off", ensure the context clearly indicates what is stabilizing or decreasing. For example, "After years of rapid growth, the company experienced a leveling off of sales."

Common error

Avoid using "a leveling off" when you actually mean a significant decline. It indicates a stop to an increase, not necessarily a large drop.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a leveling off" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a process of stabilization after a period of increase. Ludwig AI examples confirm that "a leveling off" describes the cessation of a previously increasing trend.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a leveling off" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the stabilization of something that was previously increasing. Ludwig AI confirms its use across various domains, including news, science, and business. It's important to differentiate "a leveling off" from a decline, as the former implies stabilization rather than a decrease. Alternatives like "stabilization" or "plateau" can be used depending on the specific context. When employing "a leveling off", ensure the context clearly indicates what is stabilizing to avoid misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a stabilization

Focuses on achieving a stable state, without necessarily implying a prior increase.

a plateau

Emphasizes reaching a high point and then remaining constant.

a stagnation

Suggests a lack of growth or progress, often with negative connotations.

a standstill

Implies a complete halt to movement or progress.

a deceleration

Highlights the slowing down of a process or trend.

a tapering off

Suggests a gradual decrease or reduction.

a flattening out

Emphasizes the change from a rising trend to a horizontal one.

a balance

Focuses on equilibrium and equilibrium.

a steady state

Highlights a condition of equilibrium.

equilibrium

Highlights a condition of stabilization.

FAQs

How can I use "a leveling off" in a sentence?

Use "a leveling off" to describe a situation where something that was increasing is no longer increasing and has stabilized. For instance, "The rate of inflation saw "a leveling off" after the government implemented new policies".

What's the difference between "a leveling off" and "a decline"?

"A leveling off" indicates that a previously increasing trend has stopped increasing and has become stable, while "a decline" means there is an actual decrease. "A decline" implies a downward trend, whereas "a leveling off" suggests a horizontal trend.

What can I say instead of "a leveling off"?

You can use alternatives such as "stabilization", "plateau", or "stagnation" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "a leveling off" to describe something that was never increasing?

No, "a leveling off" is typically used to describe the end of a period of increase. If something was never increasing, it would be more accurate to describe it as "stable" or "constant" instead.