are we declining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are we declining" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when questioning whether a group, organization, or situation is experiencing a decrease in quality, quantity, or status. Example: "In light of recent events, I can't help but wonder, are we declining in our performance compared to last year?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Are we declining?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"The investigation is ongoing, and because it's ongoing we decline to comment," said Tracy Golden, a spokeswoman for the office.

The New York Times

"It's pretty incredible that we are declining sex in pursuit of wet dreams.

Vice

"It's pretty incredible that we are declining sex in pursuit of wet dreams," he wrote in 2003.

Vice

"We are declining some requests outright this year," a Marconi spokesman said.

The New York Times

A company spokesman, Matt Graves, said on Monday, "I appreciate your offer for Twitter to provide perspective for the story, but we are declining comment on this one".

The New York Times

Update: Square responded, sort of: "We are declining to comment, but appreciate you asking".

TechCrunch

"We stabilized some last year, but we're declining a little further this year".

Huffington Post

But when we went to Spotify's office in 2010, we were declined – it was all or nothing".

The Guardian - Tech

"Our intakes are declining and we're happy about that -- people aren't surrendering the number of animals as a couple of years ago," Hatman said.

Huffington Post

"If bat populations are declining, we know that something is wrong".

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are we declining", ensure the context is clear about what is being measured or assessed. Be specific about whether you're referring to performance, quality, or some other metric.

Common error

Be careful not to use "are we declining" without providing specific evidence or examples. Vague statements can weaken your argument. Instead, support your claims with data or observations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are we declining" functions as an interrogative phrase used to question whether a group, entity, or situation is experiencing a downward trend or deterioration. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it seeks to assess a current or potential negative change.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are we declining" is a grammatically sound and frequently used interrogative, employed to question whether a group, entity, or situation is experiencing a downward trend. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, mainly in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. When using it, be specific about what aspect you are measuring. Related phrases like "are we deteriorating" or "are we regressing" can offer nuanced alternatives. Remember to avoid vague generalizations and support your concerns with concrete evidence to strengthen your argument. This analysis helps ensure clarity and precision in your writing when addressing potential declines.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are we deteriorating

Replaces "declining" with "deteriorating", emphasizing a worsening condition.

are we regressing

Substitutes "declining" with "regressing", indicating a return to a former, less developed state.

are we diminishing

Replaces "declining" with "diminishing", focusing on a reduction in size, importance, or quality.

are we deteriorating in quality

Adds "in quality" to specify the aspect of decline.

is our performance decreasing

Shifts the focus to "performance" and uses "decreasing" instead of "declining".

are we losing ground

Uses the idiomatic expression "losing ground" to convey a decline in position or advantage.

are we in decay

Replaces "declining" with "in decay", suggesting a state of decomposition or decline.

are we on the decline

Uses the preposition "on" to express a state of ongoing deterioration.

are we falling behind

Suggests a comparison against a benchmark of progress, where decline manifests as lagging.

are our standards slipping

Focuses on standards as the measure of decline, replacing "declining" with "slipping".

FAQs

What does "are we declining" mean?

The phrase "are we declining" suggests a decrease in quality, quantity, influence, or general condition. It implies a negative trend or deterioration over time.

How can I use "are we declining" in a sentence?

You can use "are we declining" to question a current state or trend, such as "Considering our recent performance, are we declining in market share?"

What can I say instead of "are we declining"?

You can use alternatives like "are we deteriorating", "are we regressing", or "are we diminishing" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "are we declining" or "are we on the decline"?

Both "are we declining" and "are we on the decline" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "Are we on the decline" might suggest a more established or continuous trend.