a small decline.

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small decline." is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minor decrease in quantity, quality, or value in various contexts, such as economics, health, or performance. Example: "The company reported a small decline in sales this quarter compared to the previous one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And that's down from 54.2% a year ago, though it's a small decline considering all the talk.

Forbes

Also, lenders wrote off $49 billion in uncollectible loans, a small decline from a year earlier and the first year-over-year decline since 2006.

Huffington Post

A small decline is expected.

The New York Times

So, just a small decline.

The Guardian - Business

Analysts had been forecasting a small decline.

The New York Times

The jump came despite a small decline in serious crime in 2002.

The New York Times

Until that time, it would be such a small decline, it would be hard to measure.

The Washington Post

It's true that confidence has shown a small decline over the last few months.

The New York Times

In fact, nonfarm payrolls showed a small decline, government figures show.

The New York Times

Private firms actually added 246,000 workers, offset by a small decline in government payrolls.

The Economist

Analysts had expected a small decline, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing trends, use "a small decline" to accurately portray minor reductions without causing undue alarm. For instance, "There was a small decline in customer satisfaction this quarter, but overall feedback remains positive."

Common error

Avoid using "a small decline" when the actual decrease is substantial, which could mislead readers. Instead, quantify the decline with precise figures and use more appropriate terms like "significant decrease" if warranted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small decline" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a decrease or reduction that is characterized as minor. Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a small decline" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a slight reduction or decrease. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's versatile and applicable in various contexts, including news, science, and academia. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure the decline is indeed minor to avoid misleading your audience. Alternatives such as "a slight decrease" or "a modest reduction" can be used interchangeably. It’s important to maintain accuracy when depicting trends, so consider quantifying the decline with specific figures when possible. The phrase appears frequently in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, solidifying its reliability in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight decrease

Emphasizes the minimal nature of the reduction by using "slight" instead of "small."

a minor reduction

Replaces "decline" with "reduction", highlighting the act of diminishing something.

a modest decrease

Uses "modest" to convey that the decrease is not substantial.

a marginal drop

Substitutes "decline" with "drop", implying a quick and small fall.

a negligible downturn

Uses "negligible" to stress that the downturn is so small it's almost insignificant.

a fractional decrease

Implies that the decrease is only a small fraction of the total.

a mild reduction

Replaces "small" with "mild" to indicate the reduction is not severe.

a tiny decrease

Uses the word "tiny" to express the small scale of the reduction.

a minimal downturn

Uses "minimal" indicating that the downturn is as small as possible.

a limited decline

Highlights that the decline is constrained and not expected to worsen.

FAQs

How can I use "a small decline" in a sentence?

You can use "a small decline" to describe a slight reduction in quantity, quality, or value. For example, "The report showed "a small decline" in sales this month."

What are some alternatives to saying "a small decline"?

Some alternatives include "a slight decrease", "a minor reduction", or "a modest decrease". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "a small decline" when the decrease is actually quite large?

No, using "a small decline" to describe a significant decrease would be misleading. It's important to accurately represent the extent of the change with appropriate terminology.

What's the difference between "a small decline" and "a significant decline"?

"A small decline" indicates a minor reduction, whereas "a significant decline" suggests a substantial and noteworthy decrease. The choice depends on the magnitude of the change you're describing.