continual decrease

USAGE SUMMARY

"continual decrease" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to talk about a continuous decrease of something over a period of time. For example: "The profits of the company have seen a continual decrease over the past five years."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Increasing isobutyl content in the aluminoxane co-catalyst led to a continual decrease in catalyst activity.

Polymer

As the power transistor gets larger and larger (higher and higher power), and is designed to operate at higher and higher frequencies, the result is a continual decrease in the input and output impedances of the device.

Radio Frequency Transistors Principles and Practical Applications

Research findings indicate that while the decadal increase in orchards poses a significant threat to water quality, the continual decrease in forested land exhibits a potential impact on water quality management.

Journal of Environmental Management

'The inevitable result of the continuance of the enormous increase of so-called private carriers for hire and the continual decrease in the number of common carriers holding certificates of public convenience and necessity will be the practical disappearance altogether of common carriers from the roads.

Cornell University

Patients with bronchiectasis, if left untreated, will have a continual decrease of their pulmonary function.

Protein & Cell

The cadmium, zinc, manganese, and copper release rates exhibit a rapid increase in dissolution rate during the initial oxidation (1 to 20 days), followed by continual decrease in release rates with time.

Geochemical Transactions

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The multi-year trends had two primary patterns relative to river discharge: (i) increases in concentration resulting from both land clearing from logging and the flood of record during December 1964 (water year 1965), and (ii) continual decreases in concentration during the decades following this flood.

Journal of Hydrology

Due to the economics of technology, we've seen continual decreases in hardware and network expenses.

Forbes

The present nutritional intervention not only reduced body weight but demonstrated continual significant decrease in body fat mass (kg) and percent of body fat in our patients.

BMC Psychiatry

Market experts have attributed several reasons to these outflows: poor yield offered by investing in gold, continual price decreases, and a pessimistic outlook for gold on strong equity markets.

Financial Innovation

However, continual significant decreases in capital costs faced by households for installing systems after 27 October 2010 and increasing prices for grid electricity mean that while the payback period for installing domestic solar panels may have increased somewhat, the long-term rate of return to households on a typical 1.5-kW system has in fact increased over time.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing trends or changes over time, use "continual decrease" to clearly indicate an ongoing reduction. This emphasizes that the decrease is not a one-time event but rather a sustained process.

Common error

While "continual" and "continuous" are similar, "continual" implies a recurring decrease with possible interruptions, while "continuous" indicates an uninterrupted decrease. Choose the word that accurately reflects the nature of the decline.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continual decrease" functions as a noun phrase, describing a sustained reduction or decline. Ludwig provides examples from various sources, showing its use in scientific research, news reports, and other contexts to denote ongoing diminishing trends.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "continual decrease" is a valid and useful expression for describing a recurring reduction, possibly with interruptions. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and appears in various contexts, particularly within scientific and news publications. While similar to "continuous decrease", "continual" allows for occasional pauses in the declining trend. When using this phrase, consider whether the reduction is truly uninterrupted or if "continual" more accurately reflects the situation. Be mindful of the subtle differences between "continual" and "continuous" to ensure accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

steady decline

Focuses on the consistent and gradual nature of the decrease.

constant decline

Emphasizes the unchanging nature of the decrease over time.

continuous decline

Highlights the uninterrupted nature of the decreasing trend.

gradual reduction

Stresses the pace of the decrease as being slow and incremental.

persistent drop

Suggests the decrease is enduring and resistant to change.

unremitting decline

Emphasizes that the decline is relentless and without pause.

progressive decrease

Highlights the step-by-step nature of the reduction.

incessant lessening

Focuses on the unceasing nature of the reduction, perhaps more emphatic.

ongoing diminution

A more formal way to express a reduction that is currently in progress.

perpetual dwindling

Emphasizes that the decrease is permanent and ongoing indefinitely.

FAQs

How can I use "continual decrease" in a sentence?

You can use "continual decrease" to describe an ongoing reduction in something, for example: "The company experienced a "continual decrease" in sales throughout the year".

What are some alternatives to "continual decrease"?

Alternatives include "steady decline", "constant decline", or "continuous decline", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "continual decrease" and "continuous decrease"?

"Continual decrease" implies a recurring reduction, possibly with interruptions, while "continuous decrease" suggests an uninterrupted reduction.

What kind of context is appropriate for the use of "continual decrease"?

"Continual decrease" is suitable in any context where you want to describe a reduction that is ongoing, particularly when it may not be entirely uninterrupted, such as in describing market trends, health conditions, or resource levels.