day by day

USAGE SUMMARY

"day by day" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe incremental progress over time, for example: "Our customer base is growing day by day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Day by day by day by day," writes Blair.

Harvard University

Day by day, mostly.

The Washington Post

Sam day by day".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I go day by day.

The New York Times - Magazine

What about day by day?

Harvard Business Review

You live day by day.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

It's a day-by-day thing".

The Guardian - Sport

Day-by-day reports are available, too.

TechCrunch

"He's a day-by-day decision.

Los Angeles Times

"It's a day-by-day process".

The New York Times

World Athletics day-by-day guide.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "day by day" to emphasize the gradual nature of a process, change, or improvement. It's particularly effective when highlighting small, consistent progress over time.

Common error

Avoid using "day by day" when a more precise timeframe is needed. Instead of saying "The project is progressing day by day", specify "The project is progressing according to the weekly milestones" to provide a clearer picture of progress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "day by day" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate the manner or pace at which an action is performed or a situation evolves. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable grammatical status in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Academia

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "day by day" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to describe gradual changes or progress over time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts. While "day by day" is suitable for both formal and informal communication, understanding its nuances compared to alternatives like "day to day" or "on a daily basis" can enhance writing precision. Remember to use "day by day" when you want to highlight the steady and continuous nature of a development.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on a daily basis

Focuses on the routine or regularity of the actions.

little by little

Suggests a slow but consistent accumulation over time.

step by step

Focuses on the incremental nature of the process.

gradually

Emphasizes a slow and steady progression over time.

each passing day

Emphasizes the continuity of the process with the passage of time.

progressively

Highlights continuous advancement or development.

with each new day

Highlights renewal and continuous opportunity for progress.

over time

Indicates that changes occur as time passes.

in daily increments

Focuses on the small increases that occur each day.

in stages

Highlights a process divided into distinct phases.

FAQs

How can I use "day by day" in a sentence?

You can use "day by day" to describe something that happens gradually or incrementally, for example: "The patient is recovering "day by day" after the surgery".

What's the difference between "day by day" and "day to day"?

"Day by day" emphasizes gradual progression, while "day to day" refers to what is currently happening or being dealt with daily.

Which is more formal, "on a daily basis" or "day by day"?

"On a daily basis" is generally considered more formal than "day by day", but both are acceptable in most contexts.

What can I say instead of "day by day" to emphasize slow progress?

You can use alternatives such as "little by little", "gradually", or "step by step" to emphasize slow and steady progress.