an overall increase

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an overall increase" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to describe a situation in which some kind of measurement has increased or been made greater in total. For example, "After the implementation of the new policies, we saw an overall increase in job satisfaction among our employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Economists were expecting an overall increase of 0.4percentt.

The New York Times

The US, the world's largest music market, saw an overall increase of 2.1%.

The Guardian

It would represent an overall increase in foreign aid of nearly 9percentt.

The New York Times

In 2013 Facebook hired just seven black employees out of an overall increase of 1,200.

The Guardian - Opinion

I will request an overall increase in funding to support this vital mission.

The New York Times

Some magazines even ended the year with an overall increase in ad pages.

The New York Times

However, this should not be used as the pretext for an overall increase in police searches.

The Guardian - Opinion

The new drug benefit contributed to an overall increase in drug spending and a profound shift in who pays.

The New York Times

Research by the Press Association, meanwhile, suggested an overall increase in the number of applications received compared with last year.

The Guardian

Expenses like an overall increase in troops were paid from the base defense budget, not the war bills.

The New York Times

In its revised proposal, the authority said that it would seek an overall increase of 3.85percentt instead.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an overall increase", ensure you specify what is increasing to provide context and clarity. For example, "an overall increase in sales" is more informative than just "an overall increase".

Common error

Avoid using "an overall increase" without specifying what exactly is increasing. Ambiguity can confuse your audience. Instead of saying "There's been an overall increase", clarify with "There's been an overall increase in customer satisfaction" or "An overall increase in production efficiency".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an overall increase" functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, referring to a general rise or growth in a particular quantity or measure. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

48%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an overall increase" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe a general rise or growth. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as a noun phrase and is appropriate for neutral to formal contexts. For best practice, ensure you provide specific context about what is increasing to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "a general rise" or "a widespread augmentation" for variety. The phrase appears most frequently in news and scientific publications. It's important to clarify what is increasing to avoid confusion for the reader. With over 50 examples, Ludwig underscores the widespread applicability of this versatile phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a general rise

Emphasizes the upward trend without specifying the scope.

a total growth

Focuses on the cumulative expansion, implying a sum of smaller increases.

a widespread augmentation

Highlights a broad and extensive increase across many areas.

an aggregate expansion

Implies a combined increase from various contributing factors.

a comprehensive upturn

Suggests a turnaround leading to an increase, with a wide scope.

a net gain

Highlights the positive difference after accounting for losses or deductions.

a global escalation

Refers to a rise, often in intensity or scale, on a worldwide level.

a marked improvement

Emphasizes a noticeable and positive change, suggesting an increase in quality or condition.

a collective boost

Highlights a combined increase or enhancement from multiple sources.

a blanket hike

Suggests a uniform increase across the board, often used in financial contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "an overall increase" in a sentence?

You can use "an overall increase" to describe a general rise or growth in something. For example, "The company reported an overall increase in profits this quarter" or "There has been an overall increase in the number of students applying to the university".

What's a formal alternative to "an overall increase"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "a general rise", "a total growth", or "a widespread augmentation" to convey a similar meaning with slightly elevated language. See also: "a general rise".

What is the difference between "an overall increase" and "a significant increase"?

"An overall increase" simply indicates a general rise or growth. "A significant increase", on the other hand, implies that the rise is substantial and noteworthy. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the magnitude of the increase. Alternatively you can see "a total growth".

Is it correct to say "an overall increase of" something?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "an overall increase of" something, especially when specifying the amount or percentage of the increase. For example, "an overall increase of 10% in sales". However, you can also say "an overall increase in sales".