a small decrease of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small decrease of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a minor reduction in quantity, size, or intensity. Example: "There was a small decrease of sales in the last quarter compared to the previous one."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Toughness was increased substantially on the basis of a small decrease of strength.

Journal of Iron and Steel Research, International

There is only a small decrease of performance of 10% from cal/val to regionalization for these two methods.

Journal of Hydrology

Hydrogen ion irradiation led to a small decrease of impact toughness for the W-film-deposited stainless steel.

Surface and Coatings Technology

An increase of the methane selectivity and a small decrease of the growth factor also accompanied these changes.

Catalysis Today

In general, the second impregnation polymerization cycle of furfuryl alcohol resulted in a small decrease of both types of porosity domains.

Carbon

The numerical results show a small decrease of transverse stiffness and a significant decrease of transverse tensile strength with increasing the pore content.

Composites Part B: Engineering

The use of the BFA and BBA lead to a small decrease of the compressive strength, however they can exhibit very low permeability and water absorption values, lower than required by the specifications (close to 5%).

Construction and Building Materials

To a small decrease of the modulus of the final materials a large increase of the toughness of the thermoset is associated, as compared with the neat epoxy resin when cured with an usual curing agent.

Polymer

Except for France, which had a small decrease of 4percentt, each country reports a sharp increase in year-on-year film production between 2005 and 2009.

Forbes

Certainly, the presence of N (with Z = 7) should give rise to a small decrease of the anionic R1 quotient.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The presence of the peptides (fairly hydrophobic) could, however, lead to a small decrease of adhered cells on the modified samples.

Applied Adhesion Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small decrease of", ensure that the context clearly establishes what is being decreased. For instance, specify "a small decrease of 5% in profits" to provide precise information.

Common error

Avoid using "a small decrease of" without providing any quantitative measure or reference point. Saying "a small decrease of efficiency" is less informative than "a small decrease of 2% in efficiency".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small decrease of" functions as a modifier, specifically a prepositional phrase, that quantifies a noun. It adds detail about the magnitude of a reduction, indicating it is not significant. Ludwig confirms the correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

85%

News & Media

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a small decrease of" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase to describe a minor reduction. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. It’s especially prevalent in scientific and formal writing but remains appropriate for general use. Related phrases include "a slight reduction in" and "a minor drop in". When employing this phrase, ensure you specify the subject being decreased and, ideally, provide quantitative details to enhance clarity. Avoid using it vaguely without a reference point or measurement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight reduction in

Focuses on the action of reducing rather than the state of being decreased.

a minor drop in

Uses the word 'drop' to indicate a decrease, suggesting a more abrupt change.

a marginal decline in

Emphasizes the insignificance of the decrease using the term 'marginal'.

a negligible fall in

Highlights the unimportance of the decrease by describing it as 'negligible'.

a modest lessening of

Replaces 'decrease' with 'lessening', implying a gradual reduction.

a diminutive reduction of

Uses 'diminutive' to underscore the small size of the reduction.

a limited downturn in

Implies a temporary negative trend or decline that is restricted in scope.

a fractional diminution of

Replaces 'decrease' with 'diminution', emphasizing a reduction to a smaller fraction.

a trivial lessening in

Indicates the decrease is of very little importance using the word 'trivial'.

a minute dip in

Uses 'dip' to portray a slight and temporary decline.

FAQs

How can I use "a small decrease of" in a sentence?

You can use "a small decrease of" to describe a slight reduction in something. For example, "There was a small decrease of 1% in the unemployment rate".

What's a good alternative to "a small decrease of"?

Alternatives include "a slight reduction in", "a minor drop in", or "a marginal decline in". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a small decrease of" or "a slight decrease in"?

Both "a small decrease of" and "a slight decrease in" are grammatically correct and commonly used. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, although "decrease of" may be slightly more formal than "decrease in".

What does "a small decrease of" imply about the magnitude of change?

The phrase "a small decrease of" indicates that the reduction is relatively insignificant or not very large. It suggests that the change is present but not substantial enough to cause major concern or impact.