be increased by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be increased by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a change in quantity, amount, or level that is being raised or augmented by a specific value or factor. Example: "The budget for the project will be increased by 20% to accommodate additional expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Efficiency targets are to be increased by £5bn.

The Guardian

Points of sale for concessions will be increased by 30%.

The Guardian - Sport

Capacity will be increased by 9% this year.

The Guardian - Business

The crystal growth rate can be increased by 20%.

Journal of Crystal Growth

Transpiration can be increased by lowering the saturation deficit.

Agricultural Systems

The perforation power could be increased by some 17%.

International Journal of Impact Engineering

Could the documentation be increased by including other randomized studies?

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology

It could be increased by a KrF laser irradiation.

Applied Surface Science

DAS lifetime could probably be increased by lowering Al-loads.

Applied Geochemistry

"Such uncertainties will only be increased by discord and delay".

The New York Times

Journey times would be increased by only five minutes.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about proportional changes, explicitly state whether the increase is relative (percentage) or absolute (numerical) to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify if something is "increased by 10%" or "increased by 10 units".

Common error

Avoid using "be increased by" with nouns that are inherently non-countable without proper quantification. For example, it's better to say "the level of detail was increased" rather than "detail was increased by".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be increased by" functions as a passive construction used to indicate that a particular quantity, value, or attribute undergoes a rise or augmentation. As evidenced by Ludwig, this phrase highlights the result of an action rather than the actor itself.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be increased by" is a versatile passive phrase used to denote a quantitative rise or augmentation. Grammatically sound and widely employed, according to Ludwig, it appears across diverse contexts, including scientific literature, news reports, and encyclopedic entries. When writing, ensure clarity by specifying whether the increase is absolute or relative, and avoid using the phrase with non-countable nouns without proper quantification. Consider alternatives such as "be augmented by" or ""be enhanced by"" for subtle variations in meaning. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be augmented by

Replaces "increased" with a synonym suggesting a more gradual or supplementary addition.

be enhanced by

Focuses on the improvement aspect, implying a qualitative betterment rather than a purely quantitative increase.

be amplified by

Suggests a more significant or dramatic increase, often used in technical or scientific contexts.

be elevated by

Implies a raising to a higher level or status, often used in more formal contexts.

be boosted by

Suggests a rapid or energetic increase, often used in business or marketing contexts.

be expanded by

Focuses on the enlargement of scope or extent, rather than a simple numerical increase.

be extended by

Emphasizes the prolongation or lengthening of something, often related to time or space.

be magnified by

Suggests an increase in size or importance, often used metaphorically.

be inflated by

Implies an unnatural or excessive increase, often with negative connotations.

be supplemented by

Highlights the addition of something extra to improve or complete the original.

FAQs

How can I use "be increased by" in a sentence?

The phrase "be increased by" indicates that something has grown or been augmented by a specific amount. For example, "The budget will be increased by 10%", or "Efficiency can "be enhanced by" adopting new technologies".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "be increased by"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "be augmented by", ""be enhanced by"", or "be amplified by" to express a similar idea.

Which is correct, "be increased by" or "increase by"?

"Be increased by" is typically used in the passive voice, indicating that something is being acted upon. "Increase by" is an active construction where something is performing the action of increasing. For example, "The budget will be increased by the committee" (passive) versus "The committee will increase the budget by 10%" (active).

What is the difference between "be increased by" and "increased to"?

"Be increased by" indicates the amount of change, while "increased to" indicates the final value after the change. For example, "The budget will be increased by $1000" means the budget grows by that amount. "The budget was increased to $1000" means the final budget amount is $1000.