a steep decrease in

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a steep decrease in" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a sudden, sharp decline in something, for example: "The company saw a steep decrease in profits after increasing their operational expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

As expected, addition of 2-DG resulted in a steep decrease in ECAR (Fig. 2B).

Nature

Last month, Morgan Stanley reported a steep decrease in its earnings because of some wrong bets on the direction of interest rates by its bond traders.

The New York Times

Records indicate a steep decrease in the number of rent-regulated tenants in the buildings owned by Mr. Cohen and the Kushners.

The New York Times

Migrant deaths along the United States border with Mexico rose last year despite a steep decrease in attempted crossings, according to the United Nations Migration Agency.

The New York Times - Arts

One significant outcome of the coming cuts, officials said, could be a steep decrease in the number of intelligence analysts assigned to the region.

The New York Times

What worries some experts is that some of the problems here are all too common, a steep decrease in property and sales taxes and transfer fees as a result of weakness in the housing market.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

A decreasing trend was observed in salmonellosis-associated hospitalizations, but the HACCP regulation did not seem to be associated with a steeper decrease in salmonellosis-associated hospitalizations after it was implemented.

Plosone

In this study, we found a steeper decrease in HRD with aging in women than men.

BMC Public Health

This study could show a steeper decrease in oxygenation of muscle haemoglobin during exercise with WBV, where post exercise was followed by a transient greater oxygenation than baseline.

European Journal of Applied Physiology

Children with comorbid autism had a steeper decrease in relative weight initially but regained a weight z-score above normative data.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Of notice, a steeper decrease in HR-HPV prevalence with age than that found in the NTCC study was observed in a study conducted in Central and Southern Italy [ 35].

BMC Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Accurately quantify the "steep decrease" with specific data or percentages, where possible, to provide empirical evidence of the described decline.

Common error

Avoid assuming that because there's "a steep decrease in" one factor after another event, that the latter caused the former. Always look for confounding variables and confirm causality with robust evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a steep decrease in" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a significant and rapid decline in something. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is considered grammatically correct and readily usable in English writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

42%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a steep decrease in" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote a significant and rapid decline. Ludwig examples show its prevalence in scientific literature, news reports, and other formal contexts. The analysis indicates the phrase is suitable for describing declines across various subjects, from economic indicators to scientific measurements. It is important to remember that while the phrase is widely used, it's crucial to ensure the context clearly specifies what is decreasing, providing empirical evidence to support the described decline for better clarity and understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a sharp decline in

Changes "decrease" to "decline" and "steep" to "sharp", emphasizing a rapid reduction.

a rapid fall in

Substitutes "decrease" with "fall" and "steep" with "rapid", focusing on the quickness of the drop.

a marked reduction in

Replaces "steep decrease" with "marked reduction", highlighting the notability of the decrease.

a substantial drop in

Employs "drop" instead of "decrease" and "substantial" for "steep", denoting a considerable decline.

a significant downturn in

Uses "downturn" to replace "decrease", implying a negative trend.

a precipitous decline in

Replaces "steep" with "precipitous", indicating a very sudden and dramatic drop.

a dramatic fall in

Substitutes "steep" with "dramatic", emphasizing the suddenness and intensity of the decrease.

a considerable lessening of

Changes the structure, using "lessening" to convey a reduction in something, making it less direct.

a notable diminution of

Replaces the original phrase with more formal vocabulary, like "diminution", suggesting a reduction in size or importance.

a visible contraction of

Uses "contraction" to denote a decrease in size or scope, providing a slightly different nuance.

FAQs

How can I use "a steep decrease in" in a sentence?

You can use "a steep decrease in" to describe a rapid and significant decline. For example, "There was a steep decrease in sales after the price increase."

What phrases are similar to "a steep decrease in"?

Similar phrases include "a sharp decline in", "a rapid fall in", or "a marked reduction in". These all suggest a significant and quick drop.

How is "a steep decrease in" different from "a gradual decrease in"?

"A steep decrease in" implies a rapid and significant decline, while "a gradual decrease in" suggests a slower, more steady decline over time. The former is sudden, the latter is progressive.

What words can I use instead of "steep" in "a steep decrease in"?

Alternatives to "steep" include "sharp", "rapid", "precipitous", or "dramatic". These words can help vary your writing while still conveying the same meaning of a sudden and significant decline.