a minor decrease in

USAGE SUMMARY

"a minor decrease in" is an acceptable and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to indicate a small but noticeable decrease in something, such as temperature or income. For example: Over the last year, there has been a minor decrease in the average temperature.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Introducing MgO in S53P4 caused a minor decrease in the dissolution rates of all ions.

Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids

However a minor decrease in the absorption in visible region was observed for higher SWCNT concentrations.

Carbon

Mechanical compaction reduces porosity, but only leads to a minor decrease in β.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Even a minor decrease in the brightness of the ice sheet can double the average yearly rate of ice loss, seen from 1992 to 2010.

The Guardian

After exposure, GFRP samples exhibited a minor decrease in glass transition temperature (Tg) which indicated minor structural degradation.

Composite Structures

When the prototype was used only a minor decrease in the muscular load on the holding side was recorded.

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

Size exclusion chromatography with refractive index detection (SEC-RI) indicated a minor decrease in apparent molecular size of the amylose and the less branched amylopectin fractions.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

Similarly, Vn80 339, which lacks the whole HBD-3, showed only a minor decrease in binding KatA, which is in agreement with our observation that heparin had only a partial inhibitory effect.

Nature

We examine the relation between detection power, estimation efficiency, and predictability and show that small increases in predictability can offer significant gains in detection power with only a minor decrease in estimation efficiency.

NeuroImage

Scaffolds containing starch aerogels presented an increased porosity and pore interconnectivity to promote the bone tissue growth processes at the expense of a minor decrease in the mechanical properties.

Journal of CO2 Utilization

The results demonstrate that increasing the excitation amplitude or decreasing damping ratio can cause a minor decrease in the nonlinear resonance frequency despite the significant increase in the amplitude of vibration due to reduced damping.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a minor decrease in", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being measured and what units are used to quantify the decrease. For instance, specify "a minor decrease in temperature" or "a minor decrease in revenue".

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the importance of a "minor decrease". Clearly indicate its relative impact compared to other factors or expected outcomes, so that readers correctly interpret the scale of change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minor decrease in" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. It identifies a small reduction in a specific quantity or quality. Ludwig examples show its widespread use across scientific and general contexts, aligning with Ludwig AI's assessment of acceptability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

77%

News & Media

11%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a minor decrease in" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to indicate a slight reduction. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability, and Ludwig examples illustrate its widespread use across scientific, news, and academic domains. While versatile, it’s important to specify the context and quantity when using this phrase and avoid overstating its significance. Alternatives like "a slight reduction in" or "a small decline in" offer similar meanings with subtle variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight reduction in

This alternative uses "reduction" instead of "decrease", implying a similar but possibly more controlled lessening.

a small decline in

Replaces "decrease" with "decline", suggesting a gradual reduction.

a marginal drop in

"Marginal drop" indicates a decrease that is barely noticeable.

a modest lessening of

Uses "lessening" which is a more formal synonym for decrease, suggesting something becoming smaller or weaker.

a trivial reduction of

Using "trivial" emphasizes the insignificance of the decrease.

a limited downturn in

"Downturn" suggests a negative trend or change, which is similar to a decrease.

a barely perceptible fall in

This alternative emphasizes that the decrease is very difficult to notice.

a negligible diminution of

"Diminution" is a formal term for decrease, implying a reduction in size or importance.

a slight dip in

"Dip" is more informal and suggests a temporary decrease.

a fractional cut in

"Fractional cut" indicates a small part or percentage being removed.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "a minor decrease in"?

You can use alternatives like "a slight reduction in", "a small decline in", or "a marginal drop in" depending on the context.

How to use "a minor decrease in" in a sentence?

Use "a minor decrease in" to describe a small but noticeable reduction. For example, "There was a minor decrease in sales this quarter."

What is the difference between "a minor decrease in" and "a major decrease in"?

"A minor decrease in" indicates a small reduction, while "a major decrease in" suggests a substantial and significant reduction.

When is it appropriate to use "a minor decrease in"?

It's appropriate when describing a reduction that is small enough not to cause significant concern or disruption but is still worth noting. It is also preferable to use numbers to highlight the value of the decrease when available.