a minimal decline of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a minimal decline of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a slight decrease in quantity, quality, or performance in various contexts, such as economics, statistics, or general observations. Example: "The report indicated a minimal decline of sales in the last quarter, suggesting that the market remains stable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That's a minimal decline of only 41% from opening weekend's $103.3 million.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The national estimate of TFR showed a minimal decline from 5.7 in the periods 2003 and 2008 to 5.5 in 2013.

Global Health Action

A minimal decline in selectivity was obtained over MgHZ-360, even when the reaction was tested for the longest time of 400 h.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Generally, the daily DO measurements reveal that the largest most rapid decline occurs in the shallow thermokarst lake, a gradual moderate decline occurs in the deep dune trough lake, and a minimal decline in the deep kettle lake (Fig.  5).

Environmental Management

After the first screening round, revised simulations resulted in a minimal detectable decline of 0.5% in positivity rate for Amsterdam, 0.8% in Rotterdam, and 1.2% in Limburg, whereas, for comparisons with the control block, the declines would need to exceed 1.2%to1.5%5% if participation rates in the second and third rounds were similar.

British Medical Journal

By using the real participation- and Chlamydia positivity rates from the first screening round (Table 1), we determined the minimal decline needed to find a significant effect of screening on Chlamydia positivity.

BMC Infectious Diseases

With the current participation rates, the minimal detectable decline of Chlamydia prevalence may reach our defined significance levels at the regional level after the second screening round, but will probably not be significant between blocks of the stepped wedge design.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Nonresponders have only minimal declines in viral titers, while relapsers have robust declines followed by a rebound in titers either during or after therapy.

Plosone

with a minimal number of tools.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A minimal amount of cartilage is needed.

The New York Times - Science

We need a minimal amount of time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a minimal decline of", ensure the context clearly establishes what is declining and that the decline's small magnitude is relevant to the overall point you're making.

Common error

Avoid using "a minimal decline of" when the decline is actually substantial or has significant consequences. Use stronger language if the impact is greater than 'minimal'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minimal decline of" functions as a modifier, specifically describing the extent or degree of a decrease. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is correct and usable, serving to qualify a reduction as being small or insignificant.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a minimal decline of" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a slight decrease. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is suitable for use in various contexts, particularly in describing data trends in news, science, and formal business settings. While not extremely common, its usage is well-established. When employing this phrase, ensure that the decline being discussed is genuinely small and that downplaying the severity is the intended communicative goal. Alternatives such as ""a slight decrease in"" or ""a small drop in"" can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight decrease in

Focuses on the reduction itself, using 'decrease' instead of 'decline'.

a small drop in

Uses 'drop' to convey a minor reduction or decrease.

a marginal reduction of

Emphasizes the small and almost insignificant nature of the reduction.

a negligible decrease of

Highlights the insignificance of the decrease.

a modest decrease in

Indicates a decrease that is limited in scale.

a minor reduction in

Simple substitution of 'minor' for 'minimal'.

a fractional decrease of

Uses 'fractional' to emphasize a small, partial decline.

a slight downturn in

Implies a small negative trend.

a limited decrease of

Highlights that the decrease is constrained or not extensive.

a trivial reduction in

Stresses that the reduction is insignificant and unimportant.

FAQs

How can I use "a minimal decline of" in a sentence?

You can use "a minimal decline of" to describe a slight decrease in something. For instance, "The company reported "a minimal decline of" profits this quarter".

What are some alternatives to "a minimal decline of"?

Alternatives include "a slight decrease in", "a small drop in", or "a marginal reduction of", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a minimal decline in" or "a minimal decline of"?

Both "a minimal decline in" and "a minimal decline of" are grammatically correct. The choice often depends on the specific noun that follows. For example, "a minimal decline in performance" and ""a minimal decline of" sales" are both acceptable.

What does "a minimal decline of" imply about the thing that is declining?

"A minimal decline of" suggests that the decrease is small, insignificant, or not particularly concerning. It implies that the thing in question is still largely stable or successful despite the slight reduction.