decades long trend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decades long trend" is not correct in written English; it should be "decades-long trend." You can use it when discussing a trend or pattern that has persisted for several decades.
Example: "The decades-long trend of increasing temperatures has raised concerns among climate scientists."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Unemployment figures out this week will reverse a decades long trend of complete indifference in the City.

The Guardian - Business

An unraveling of monetary coordination in Europe would mark a significant event of disintegration in the face of a decades long trend of integration that was commonly considered to be an inevitable and self-sustaining process.

Columbia University

The facts will be reported, but unless Samsung has reversed a decades long trend, everyone knows what's coming, and the coverage will be 'well, the Galaxy S6 is what we all expected'.

Forbes

Without prominent leaders pushing for a change, it is hard to imagine a reversal of this decades long trend.

Huffington Post

But in an era of Obama-can-do-nothing-right, the GOP hawks have been quick to paint the president as weak and naive because he wants to continue the decades long trend toward reducing nuclear weapons.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This provocation illustrates a fairly thoughtful article by journalist Kate Pickert on attachment parenting, the now almost two-decades long trend pioneered by Dr. William Sears of affluent Orange County, California.

Forbes

This has been a decades-long trend.

The New York Times - Magazine

Reviving the middle class requires that we reverse the nation's decades-long trend toward widening inequality.

The New York Times

This is not a few-year trend, this is a decades-long trend".

The New York Times

LAST week's election saw no turnaround in the state's decades-long trend of declining voter participation.

The New York Times

And that, as it happens, is the reverse of a decades-long trend.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the hyphenated form "decades-long trend" to ensure grammatical correctness. This clarifies that "decades-long" functions as a single adjective modifying "trend".

Common error

Avoid writing "decades long trend". Without the hyphen, "decades" can be misinterpreted as a noun, disrupting the flow and clarity of your sentence. Always use "decades-long" as a compound adjective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decades long trend" (ideally written as "decades-long trend") functions as a noun phrase where "decades long" acts as a compound adjective modifying the noun "trend". According to Ludwig AI, the unhyphenated form is not correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "decades long trend" is understandable, the grammatically correct form is "decades-long trend". Remember to use a hyphen to create a compound adjective. This phrase is most commonly found in news and academic writing to describe patterns that have persisted for many years. Despite its frequent appearance in prominent sources, Ludwig AI flags the unhyphenated version as incorrect. For alternatives, consider using "long-standing trend" or "multi-decade trend".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

long-standing trend

Replaces "decades long" with a more general term indicating a trend that has existed for a considerable time.

multi-decade trend

Uses "multi-decade" to specify a trend spanning multiple decades.

trend spanning decades

Rephrases to emphasize the time period the trend covers.

historical trend

Highlights the trend's existence throughout history.

long-term trend

Indicates a trend observed over a long period, not necessarily decades.

trend over several decades

Specifies the duration using the phrase "several decades".

persistent trend

Focuses on the continuous and unwavering nature of the trend.

established trend of decades

Highlights the deep entrenchment of the trend.

enduring trend

Emphasizes the trend's ability to last and withstand changes.

protracted trend

Implies the trend is extended or prolonged, potentially longer than decades.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "decades long trend" in a sentence?

The grammatically correct form is "decades-long trend". For example, "The decades-long trend of declining voter participation is concerning". Alternatively, you can use "long-standing trend" or "multi-decade trend".

What is the difference between "decades long trend" and "decades-long trend"?

"Decades long trend" is grammatically incorrect. "Decades-long trend" uses a hyphen to create a compound adjective, correctly describing a trend that has lasted for decades. The hyphenated form is the standard and preferred usage.

What are some alternatives to "decades-long trend"?

You can use phrases like "long-standing trend", "multi-decade trend", or "trend spanning decades" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "decades-long trend" formal or informal?

The phrase "decades-long trend" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is commonly found in news articles, academic papers, and general discussions about long-term patterns.