becoming less common

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "becoming less common" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a trend or change in frequency or prevalence of something over time. Example: "With the rise of digital communication, handwritten letters are becoming less common."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Across Europe, cannabis use is becoming less common.

The Economist

The communal mode of TV viewing isn't gone, but it's becoming less common.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It's becoming less common to see grass-roots, homegrown ideas," Ms. Bower said.

The New York Times

Even within large corporations, traditional command-and-control management is becoming less common.

Harvard Business Review

Some journals insist that all instances of "I" or "we" be excised, but this is becoming less common.

Stanford University

Abortions are becoming less common in the United States, particularly for teenagers, a survey by the Alan Guttmacher Institute indicates.

The New York Times

They were agitated that the name was becoming less common, so they decided to hold Lindaland conventions.

The Guardian - Film

Boeckman is more of a classic drop-back quarterback, the kind that is becoming less common in college football.

The New York Times - Sports

It is widely agreed that corporal punishment is becoming less common in the UK, as it is in most places.

The Guardian - Opinion

Counter-terrorism searches have been all but stopped, while some of the other sorts are becoming less common.

The Economist

For these reasons, observations with 4 or fewer CCDs are becoming more common, while observations with 5 or 6 CCDs are becoming less common.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "becoming less common" to describe trends or changes over time when you want to emphasize the process of decline, rather than just stating something is rare.

Common error

While "becoming less common" is widely applicable, be mindful of your audience. In highly formal or scientific writing, consider more precise or technical alternatives like "decreasing in prevalence" or "diminishing in frequency" to maintain an elevated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "becoming less common" functions as a descriptive phrase, often serving as a predicate adjective. It indicates a trend or change in the frequency or prevalence of something over time, as confirmed by the Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "becoming less common" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to describe declining trends. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts. While "becoming less common" is frequently found in News & Media and Science, being mindful of register is crucial – more formal alternatives might be suitable for highly academic or scientific writing. Remember to utilize this phrase when you want to emphasize a process of decline over time. Consider alternatives like "declining in popularity" or "becoming rare" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becoming rare

Highlights the increasing infrequency of something.

diminishing in frequency

Highlights the reduction in how often something occurs.

on the decline

Indicates a downward trend or deterioration.

decreasing in prevalence

Indicates a reduction in the extent to which something exists or is common.

growing scarcer

Emphasizes the increasing rarity of something.

declining in popularity

Focuses on the decrease in public favor or acceptance.

on the wane

Suggests a gradual decline or fading away.

losing ground

Implies a loss of advantage or position compared to others.

fading out

Implies a gradual disappearance or loss of prominence.

receding into the background

Suggests something is becoming less noticeable or important.

FAQs

How can I use "becoming less common" in a sentence?

You can use "becoming less common" to describe a trend where something is happening or appearing with decreasing frequency over time. For example, "Handwritten letters are "becoming less common" with the rise of digital communication".

What are some alternatives to "becoming less common"?

Alternatives include "decreasing in prevalence", "declining in popularity", or "becoming rare". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "is becoming less common"?

Yes, "is "becoming less common"" is grammatically correct. The verb "is" agrees with a singular subject and "becoming less common" functions as a predicate adjective describing the subject's state.

What's the difference between "becoming less common" and "used to be common"?

"Becoming less common" describes an ongoing trend of decreasing frequency, while "used to be common" refers to something that was frequent in the past but may or may not still be declining. The former highlights a process, while the latter emphasizes a past state.