a steep fall

USAGE SUMMARY

"a steep fall" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used in various contexts to describe a sudden and significant decrease in something, such as a change in value, quantity, or quality. Example: The stock market experienced a steep fall yesterday, with the Dow Jones dropping over 500 points in just a few hours.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Ingram Micro im, a distributor of computer components, saw its stock fall sharply after recording a steep fall in profit in the first quarter despite soaring sales.

Forbes

Wells Fargo received $87 billion worth of home loan applications in the quarter, a steep fall from $188 billion in the period a year earlier.

The New York Times

Petrol Ofisi announced a steep fall in profits this week.

The Economist

He has endured a grueling journey, a rebound from a steep fall from grace.

The New York Times

His presence at Morgan reflects a determined rebound from a steep fall from grace.

The New York Times

Although the recession has seen a steep fall in output, it has also hurt productive capacity.

The Economist

Since July the Greater Phoenix market has "cooled dramatically", thanks to a steep fall in demand.

The Economist

The more mainsteam loan market is also a concern following a steep fall in interest rates.

The Guardian - Business

"But boxing has suffered a steep fall for half a century.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Its editor, Ruth Reichl, formerly restaurant critic of the New York Times, blamed a steep fall-off in advertising revenue.

The Guardian - Books

Driving the decline was a steep fall-off in the outlook for general business conditions six months from now.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "sharp decline" or "precipitous drop" for variety and to avoid repetition, especially in longer texts.

Common error

Avoid using "a steep fall" when a more nuanced description is possible. For example, instead of saying "there was a steep fall in happiness", consider describing the specific factors contributing to the change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a steep fall" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence, describing an instance of a significant decrease. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a steep fall" is a commonly used noun phrase that effectively conveys a rapid and significant decrease. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and business domains. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the subject experiencing the decline. While synonyms like "sharp decline" or "precipitous drop" offer variety, "a steep fall" remains a reliable and impactful choice for describing substantial reductions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a sharp decline

Replaces "fall" with "decline", emphasizing the downward trend.

a precipitous drop

Substitutes "steep" with "precipitous" and "fall" with "drop", indicating a sudden and dramatic decrease.

a rapid decrease

Replaces "steep" with "rapid" and "fall" with "decrease", focusing on the speed of the reduction.

a significant reduction

Replaces "steep fall" with a more general term for a considerable lowering of quantity or value.

a dramatic downturn

Uses "dramatic" instead of "steep" and "downturn" instead of "fall", suggesting a negative shift.

a marked decrease

Replaces "steep" with "marked", indicating that the decrease is easily noticeable.

a considerable decline

Emphasizes the substantial nature of the decline.

a substantial drop

Replaces "fall" with "drop" while maintaining the emphasis on the size of the decrease.

a notable reduction

Indicates that the reduction is worth paying attention to.

a heavy slump

Uses "slump" instead of "fall", implying a sudden and significant drop, often in an economic context.

FAQs

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

You can use "a steep fall" to describe a rapid and significant decrease in something. For instance, "The company experienced a steep fall in profits due to increased competition."

What are some alternatives to saying "a steep fall"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a sharp decline", "a precipitous drop", or "a rapid decrease", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a steep fall" in formal writing?

Yes, "a steep fall" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when describing quantitative data or significant declines in measurable metrics. However, consider the tone and whether a more precise term might be suitable.

What's the difference between "a steep fall" and "a gradual decline"?

"A steep fall" implies a sudden and rapid decrease, while "a gradual decline" suggests a slow and steady decrease over time. The choice depends on the nature of the change you are describing.