acceleration

USAGE SUMMARY

'acceleration' is a word that is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an increase in speed or rate of progress, and can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, "The acceleration of the car was remarkable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Arena accelerates our transition to cheap, clean energy, but that acceleration won't happen now," he told Guardian Australia.

The Guardian

Here Schürrle had a secondary role too, his acceleration and willingness to run behind Arsenal's high defensive line a vital quality in the absence of a genuinely pacy centre-forward.

The Guardian - Sport

Measures outlined today – raising the basic personal allowance, the reduction of the 50p tax rate to 45p, the acceleration of the corporation tax downward trend, tackling tax avoidance and the infrastructure upgrade programme – are a step in the right direction to delivering jobs and growth by boosting confidence in UK plc.

The Guardian - Opinion

"You can certainly call this acceleration," its co-founder, Bin Lin, told Bloomberg.

The Guardian - Tech

A 5% target would "require implausibly rapid acceleration of effort beyond 2020", the authority says.

The Guardian

Labor, exhausted by the marathon, by the perverse acceleration of time that had aged a still youthful government, fundamentally worn down by the rolling moral panics and the instant referendums of the social media age, was simply trying to move on past the debacles of the Rudd/Gillard civil war, including the debacle of an election campaign that began to make sense only in its closing week.

The Guardian

Running through the middle, the opportunity was there to score a goal of raw power and acceleration but Miranda did just enough to put him off and the shot was misplaced.

The Guardian - Sport

For an international athlete, one who had just been accepted onto the Olympics acceleration programme 2012 for triathlon, the accident was shattering.

The Guardian

IHS Global Insight economist Diego Iscaro said: "The sharp acceleration in activity during the first quarter... points to growth in 2015 being somewhat stronger than expected by the government.

The Guardian - Business

It does suggest therefore a slight acceleration in the rate of decrease.

The Guardian

"A lot of emissions and fuel usage are caused by acceleration, and our system will allow the cars to make a much more constant speed," he says, adding that the savings could be "quite significant".

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing motion, use "acceleration" to specify the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time, ensuring clarity and precision in scientific or technical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "acceleration" interchangeably with "speed". "Acceleration" refers to the rate of change of velocity, while "speed" is simply how fast something is moving. A car can have constant speed without any "acceleration".

Linguistic Context

The term "acceleration" primarily functions as a noun, denoting the rate at which the velocity of an object changes over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes an increase in motion or action and can also relate to advancements in other contexts. Examples include describing a car's increasing speed or the pace of economic growth.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

15%

Business

10%

Less common in

Tech

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acceleration" is a versatile noun that signifies an increase in speed or rate, prominently used across various fields. As Ludwig AI points out, its core meaning relates to the rate of change in velocity, finding frequent application in contexts like physics, economics, and sports. Grammatically sound and widely recognized, its frequency is rated as very common, making it a crucial term for precise and effective communication. While its primary contexts include news, sports, and business, understanding its precise application, especially distinguishing it from mere "speed", is vital for accurate usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increase in velocity

Replaces "acceleration" with a more descriptive term for the same concept.

speeding up

Uses a more informal and active verb phrase instead of the noun "acceleration".

rate of increase

Focuses on the rate at which something increases, a component of acceleration.

growth

Emphasizes the overall increase or expansion, where "acceleration" specifically indicates the rate of change in that growth.

escalation

Implies a rapid increase or intensification, similar to a high rate of "acceleration".

quickening

Uses a less common term that suggests a speeding up or becoming more rapid.

uptick

Suggests a small but noticeable increase or "acceleration".

surge

Implies a sudden and powerful increase or "acceleration".

momentum

Refers to the force or speed of movement; achieving "momentum" implies acceleration.

intensification

Suggests a process of becoming stronger or more pronounced, akin to a speeding up.

FAQs

How is "acceleration" typically used in a sentence?

The word "acceleration" is often used to describe the rate at which an object changes its velocity. For example, "The car's "acceleration" was impressive."

What are some alternative words to use instead of "acceleration"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "speeding up", "growth", or "increase in velocity".

Is it correct to use "acceleration" when referring to a decrease in speed?

While "acceleration" technically refers to any change in velocity, including a decrease, the term "deceleration" is commonly used to describe a decrease in speed. "Acceleration" can still be used if you specify it as negative acceleration.

What's the difference between "acceleration" and "velocity"?

"Velocity" refers to the speed and direction of an object, while "acceleration" refers to the rate at which that velocity changes. A car can have a high velocity but zero "acceleration" if it maintains a constant speed and direction.