consistently decline

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "consistently decline" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is steadily decreasing over time. Example: "The company's profits have consistently declined over the past three years, prompting a reevaluation of their business strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The Independent understands five matches from 2009 alone are being studied, all in ATP men's matches, but the authorities consistently decline to provide any details or make any comment.

Independent

We note that the Kamouda series does not consistently decline from its first recorded value, but oscillates in concert with the PDO for more than four decades.

Plosone

We elected to examine BUB1B because previous microarray data for both humans (40) and mice (41), along with the present NanoString results, indicated that oocyte BUB1B transcripts consistently decline with age by around 1.5-fold.

Fertility and Sterility

In other aspects the survivor lines were unique and different from trt-1 mutants, since they exhibited variable brood sizes that did not consistently decline over time, relatively normal levels of germ-cell proliferation and a large number of unhatched embryos, which could be observed on the bacterial lawns (Table I).

EMBO Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Obama consistently calls for Assad to relinquish power; Assad consistently declines.

The Guardian

The chief Justice Department antitrust prosecutor in New York, John J. Greene, has consistently declined to discuss the case.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. DePino has consistently declined to comment on his relationship with Mr. Silvester.

The New York Times

And administration officials consistently declined to tally up the money they were forfeiting.

The New York Times

He said these reports were untrue although he consistently declined to correct them.

Independent

The league's general managers have consistently declined to take steps curbing such hits, which are legal under N.H.L. rules.

The New York Times - Sports

Wells Fargo officials have consistently declined interviews on the subject and noted only that their loans account for a small fraction of the nation's total mortgage lending.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "consistently decline" to describe trends or behaviors that show a continuous or repeated pattern of decrease or refusal. For example, "Test scores consistently decline when students skip breakfast."

Common error

Avoid using "consistently decline" when referring to a single instance or a short-term fluctuation. "Consistently" implies a longer period or multiple occurrences. Saying "The stock price consistently declined yesterday" is inappropriate if it only happened that one day.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "consistently decline" functions as a verb phrase indicating a repeated or continuous decrease. It describes a pattern of reduction or refusal, as seen in Ludwig examples where entities like "oocyte BUB1B transcripts" or "environmental efficiency" are described as decreasing over time.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "consistently decline" is grammatically sound and suitable for describing a pattern of decrease or refusal over time. While Ludwig indicates its frequency is relatively rare, its usage is appropriate across various domains, particularly in scientific and news contexts. It's crucial to use the phrase when referring to a repeated or continuous trend rather than a singular event. Alternatives such as "steadily decrease" or "continuously drop" can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances. Keep in mind the helpful best practices and common errors to ensure proper usage of "consistently decline" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

steadily decrease

This alternative emphasizes a gradual and continuous reduction.

continuously drop

This alternative suggests an uninterrupted fall or reduction.

persistently diminish

This alternative highlights the ongoing nature of the reduction, despite potential resistance.

regularly reduce

This alternative focuses on the repeated nature of the reduction, implying a scheduled or patterned decrease.

habitually refuse

This alternative focuses on the repeated nature of refusal.

invariably lessen

This alternative suggests a predictable decrease under certain circumstances.

uniformly decrease

This alternative emphasizes the consistent and unchanging rate of reduction.

repeatedly reject

This alternative highlights the action of turning something down multiple times.

systematically lower

This alternative implies a planned and methodical approach to reducing something.

chronically wane

This alternative suggests a long-term and persistent decline in strength or influence.

FAQs

How can I use "consistently decline" in a sentence?

You can use "consistently decline" to describe a situation where something is steadily decreasing over time or someone is repeatedly refusing something. For example: "The number of applicants has "steadily decreased" over the past few years" or "He "habitually refuses" to comment on the allegations."

What are some alternatives to "consistently decline"?

Some alternatives to "consistently decline" include phrases like "steadily decrease", "continuously drop", or "persistently diminish" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "consistently decline over time"?

While not strictly redundant, adding "over time" to "consistently decline" can sometimes be unnecessary as "consistently" already implies a pattern occurring over a period. However, including "over time" can add emphasis if needed.

What does "consistently decline" imply about the reasons for the decline?

"Consistently decline" primarily describes the pattern of decrease, not the reasons behind it. Further context is needed to understand the underlying causes of why something is decreasing or being refused repeatedly.