a substantial decline in

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial decline in" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a significant decrease in a particular area, such as statistics, performance, or resources. Example: "The report indicated a substantial decline in sales over the last quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Conclusions/Significance: The NFFP coincided with a substantial decline in the prevalence of anemia.

Harvard University

The flaming reds had turned into a deep azure, signalling a substantial decline in activity.

The New Yorker

The Bakker scandal caused a substantial decline in donations to all television ministries.

The New York Times

Habitat loss often leads to a substantial decline in species richness.

Biological Conservation

E-mail led to a substantial decline in traditional "snail mail".

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the days after the premiere, there was a substantial decline in Twitter volume.

The New York Times

Lower energy prices weighed on the company's numbers, resulting in what FedEx characterized as a "substantial decline" in fuel surcharges.

The New York Times

But new orders plummeted 58percentt, and the company forecast a substantial decline in earnings for 2007.

The New York Times

The country is suffering from a substantial decline in tourism (down 23% compared to the first five months of 2015).

Harvard Business Review

And awareness of household dangers and childproofing has led to a substantial decline in accidental deaths in young children.

The New York Times

After a company goes public, he said, "I find there is a substantial decline in the quality of innovation".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a substantial decline in", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is experiencing the decline and, if possible, the cause or contributing factors. For example: "There was a substantial decline in student enrollment due to increased tuition costs."

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial decline in" without specifying what is declining. For example, instead of saying "There was a substantial decline in performance", specify "There was a substantial decline in sales performance in the last quarter."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial decline in" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It indicates a notable decrease or reduction in a specific area. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial decline in" is a versatile phrase used to describe a significant decrease or reduction across various contexts. As highlighted by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in news, scientific, and business publications. Alternatives such as "a considerable decrease in" or "a significant reduction in" offer similar meanings. While the phrase is generally formal, it's essential to provide clear context regarding what is declining to avoid ambiguity. The broad applicability and consistent usage of this phrase make it a valuable tool for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable decrease in

Replaces "substantial" with "considerable", indicating a notable reduction.

a significant reduction in

Substitutes "decline" with "reduction" and "substantial" with "significant", emphasizing the extent of the decrease.

a marked drop in

Uses "drop" instead of "decline" and "marked" instead of "substantial", suggesting a noticeable decrease.

a sharp decrease in

Replaces "substantial" with "sharp", highlighting the suddenness and severity of the decline.

a notable downturn in

Uses "downturn" instead of "decline" and "notable" instead of "substantial", indicating a significant negative trend.

a major fall in

Substitutes "decline" with "fall" and "substantial" with "major", emphasizing the magnitude of the decrease.

a large-scale decrease in

Replaces "substantial" with "large-scale", indicating the broad scope of the reduction.

a considerable weakening of

Uses "weakening" instead of "decline" and changes the preposition to "of", suggesting a loss of strength or effectiveness.

a significant erosion of

Replaces "decline" with "erosion" and changes the preposition to "of", implying a gradual loss or wearing away.

a sizable contraction in

Substitutes "decline" with "contraction" and "substantial" with "sizable", indicating a reduction in size or scope.

FAQs

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

You can use "a substantial decline in" to describe a significant decrease or reduction. For example, "The company reported a substantial decline in profits this year."

What are some alternatives to "a substantial decline in"?

You can use alternatives like "a considerable decrease in", "a significant reduction in", or "a marked drop in" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "substantial decrease" or "substantial decline"?

Both "substantial decrease" and "substantial decline" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably. The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

What does "substantial decline" mean?

"Substantial decline" refers to a significant or considerable decrease in something, implying that the reduction is noteworthy and impactful.