become much less frequent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become much less frequent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a decrease in the occurrence of something over time. Example: "As the years went by, the number of visitors to the park began to become much less frequent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Sessions that were fortnightly become much less frequent.

The Guardian - Opinion

But recently the attacks have become much less frequent – thanks, in part, to "the power of prayer," according to Capt.

The New York Times

Since being released, those attacks have become much less frequent, though he continues to deal with them in time-honoured fashion.

The Guardian

You say, "If you haven't been seeing tons of corrections on the page, it may be for the best of reasons: judging by the shrinking volume of complaints I receive from readers, columnists' errors have become much less frequent".

The New York Times

Also: the Titans' trips to the end zone become much less frequent, and the feud between the Redskins running back Clinton Portis and Coach Jim Zorn has escalated to the point where one of them may not be around next year.

The New York Times

Since Tottenham won the competition in 1991, Cup shocks have become much less frequent, with Everton in 1995, Portsmouth in 2008 and Wigan in 2013 the only occasions where one of Liverpool (won it twice), Arsenal (seven times), Manchester United (four times), Chelsea (six times) or Manchester City (once) haven't won it.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

After 1950 the Passion ecstasies became much less frequent, though she continued to be visited by thousands each year until her death.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Reagan's public appearances became much less frequent with the progression of the disease, and as a result, his family decided that he would live in quiet semi-isolation with his wife Nancy.

Wikipedia

After the discovery of insulin in 1922, the development of diabetic coma became much less frequent in patients with diabetes, and when acquired, patients had better treatment options.

Diabetes Care

In the subsequent years these differences become much less significant.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Thereafter eruptions become much less explosive.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "become much less frequent", ensure the context clearly indicates what is decreasing in frequency. For example, "Power outages have become much less frequent since the new grid system was installed."

Common error

Avoid assuming a direct cause when something "becomes much less frequent". Just because an event occurs less often doesn't automatically mean a specific action caused the decrease. Correlation does not equal causation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become much less frequent" functions as a verb phrase indicating a change in the rate of occurrence of something. According to Ludwig, this usage is correct and well-supported by examples across various domains.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

33%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "become much less frequent" effectively communicates a notable decrease in the occurrence of something. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including News & Media, Science and Wiki sources. The analysis reveals that while versatile, it is crucial to ensure the context is clear and causation is not assumed without evidence. For more formal settings, alternatives like "occur with significantly reduced frequency" may be preferred. Remember to consider both the frequency and potential causes when using this phrase in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occur with significantly reduced frequency

Replaces "become much less" with "significantly reduced", emphasizing the extent of the decrease.

happen far less often

Substitutes "frequent" with "often" and uses "far less" for a stronger emphasis on reduced occurrence.

decrease substantially in frequency

Uses "decrease substantially" to replace "become much less", highlighting the reduction.

experience a considerable drop in frequency

Employs "experience a considerable drop" to convey a significant decrease.

diminish greatly in occurrence

Replaces "frequent" with "occurrence" and uses "diminish greatly" to show substantial reduction.

fall off sharply in frequency

Uses "fall off sharply" to suggest a sudden and noticeable decrease.

be seen much more rarely

Changes the focus to observation, indicating something is observed much less.

grow considerably less common

Switches from "frequent" to "common" and uses "grow considerably less" for a gradual reduction.

subside markedly in frequency

Suggests a lessening of intensity or activity, becoming markedly less frequent.

decline significantly in incidence

Replaces "frequent" with "incidence", focusing on the rate of occurrence, and uses "decline significantly" to show a notable reduction.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "become much less frequent" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "occur with significantly reduced frequency" or "decrease substantially in frequency".

Is it grammatically correct to say "become much less frequent"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase follows standard English grammar rules and is commonly used to describe a decrease in the occurrence of something over time.

What's the difference between "become much less frequent" and "become less frequent"?

The phrase "become much less frequent" emphasizes a more significant decrease in frequency compared to "become less frequent", implying a substantial reduction rather than just a slight one.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "become much less frequent"?

This phrase is suitable in various contexts, including describing changes in event occurrences, symptom frequency, or the prevalence of certain phenomena over time. It is suitable for scientific, news reporting, and general descriptive writing.