adjust upwards

USAGE SUMMARY

"adjust upwards" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to make an upward change or increase to something, such as a number or price. Example: "Due to rising costs, the company had to adjust upwards the prices of their products."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Human beings evolved "so that they have reference points that adjust upwards as their circumstances improve".

The New Yorker

If the government then used this (short-run) relationship to try to achieve a lower unemployment/higher inflation outcome than private sector agents had been expecting as the norm, then, after some lag, expectations would adjust upwards.

The Guardian

The new entrants will have a lower GDP per head than existing members, and as they catch up they will naturally have higher inflation, as the prices of non-traded goods and services adjust upwards.

The Economist

Foreigners have borne about 30% of the blow.To adjust upwards, the surplus countries would have to expand their spending to fill the vacuum left by American consumers and housebuilders, but that does not seem likely.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Then they saw some positive trends and adjusted upwards".

The New York Times

But read the small print: "The strike price could be adjusted, upwards or downwards, in relation to operational and certain other costs".

The Guardian

Eurozone GDP growth, which has suffered a series of setbacks since the financial crash, grew in the second quarter after it was adjusted upwards to 0.4% from 0.3%.

The Guardian - Business

Prices now vary according to the time of day, and are adjusted upwards or downwards each month to target particular occupancy levels.

The Economist

In terms of the rule of thumb, interest rate prescriptions would need to be adjusted upwards, resulting in an earlier date for the next interest-rate hike.

The Economist

They might well be adjusted upwards later.The first estimate of America's GDP is notoriously imprecise, and is probably more so during times of wrenching economic change.

The Economist

Since 1971 life expectancy has risen across the (mainly rich-country) OECD by four to five years, yet only now are retirement ages being adjusted upwards.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "adjust upwards" when you want to specifically indicate an upward modification or revision, often in response to new data or changing circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "adjust upwards" when a simpler verb like "increase" or "raise" would suffice. The phrase is more appropriate for technical or formal contexts where precision is important.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adjust upwards" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe the act of modifying something to a higher level or value. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, supporting its role in formal written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "adjust upwards" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe making an upward modification or increase. Although Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it is a relatively rare phrase primarily found in news, science and formal business contexts. When writing, use "adjust upwards" to specifically indicate an upward revision, but be mindful of its formality and consider simpler alternatives like "increase" in less technical settings. Remember that overuse can be perceived as wordy, so reserve this term for situations where precise directional modification is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increase

This is a more general term for making something larger or greater.

raise

Implies lifting something to a higher position or level.

escalate

Suggests a gradual and intensifying increase.

augment

Indicates adding something to increase size or value.

elevate

Implies raising to a higher rank or status.

amplify

To increase the volume or intensity of something.

inflate

Suggests an increase in size or amount, often artificially.

bump up

Informal way of saying to increase something by a small amount.

jack up

To raise or lift something with a jack, or to increase something sharply.

crank up

To increase the intensity or volume of something

FAQs

How can I use "adjust upwards" in a sentence?

You can use "adjust upwards" to describe making a change to increase a value or level. For example, "The company had to adjust upwards its sales forecast after a strong quarter."

What's a simple alternative to "adjust upwards"?

Simpler alternatives to "adjust upwards" include "increase", "raise", or "escalate", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "adjust upwards" instead of "increase"?

"Adjust upwards" is best used when referring to a specific correction or modification made to a previously established figure or plan. "Increase" is a more general term for making something larger.

Is "adjusting upwards" also grammatically correct?

Yes, "adjusting upwards" is grammatically correct. It's simply the present participle form of the verb phrase "adjust upwards" and can be used in continuous tenses. For example, "They are adjusting upwards their projections for next year."