decline by half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'decline by half' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe when something has decreased by 50%, for example "Sales have declined by half since last year".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The population may decline by half in summer through migration.

Britannica

It takes a decade for the stored-up bisphosphonate in the body to decline by half.

Harvard University

report said, growth in advanced economies could decline by half a percentage point annually.

The New York Times

And traffic from Google's search engine continued to decline, by half.

The New York Times

Economic output would decline by half a percent over a year, and unemployment would rise above 9 percent.

The New York Times

All told, national health spending would decline by half a percent, or $11 billion a year, a sum well worth saving but hardly a cure.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Welfare rolls have declined by half since 1995.

The New York Times

Agriculture was drastically affected and declined by half.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Tritium's radioactivity declines by half every 12 years.

The New York Times

Toxic emissions declined by half; days of dangerous smog levels declined by two-thirds.

The New York Times - Magazine

Since then, that number was thought to have declined by half.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decline by half", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being reduced. For example, "Profits declined by half due to increased costs" provides clear context.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly stating the original value before the decline. For example, instead of saying "The price declined by half", specify "The price declined by half, from $20 to $10."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decline by half" functions as a quantitative descriptor, indicating a reduction of 50 percent. It is used to specify the extent of a decrease, as supported by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

8%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decline by half" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a 50% reduction. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It's frequently found in News & Media and Science, indicating its relevance across different registers. Remember to provide context to avoid ambiguity and ensure clarity when specifying what is declining. Consider alternatives like "halve" or "decrease by 50 percent" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decrease by 50 percent

Uses a numerical percentage to specify the amount of reduction.

reduce by 50 percent

Employs "reduce" instead of "decline" with an explicit percentage.

drop by 50%

Replaces "decline" with "drop" and uses a percentage.

fall by half

Substitutes "decline" with "fall".

halve

A more concise verb conveying the same meaning.

be cut in half

Emphasizes the action of being reduced.

plummet by 50 percent

Implies a more rapid and dramatic decrease.

shrink by half

Uses "shrink", suggesting a reduction in size or amount.

contract by 50 percent

Suggests a shrinking or reduction, often used in economic contexts.

diminish by half

Uses "diminish" for a slightly more formal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "decline by half" in a sentence?

You can use "decline by half" to describe a 50% reduction. For example, "After the new regulations, sales "decline by half"."

What is a more concise way to say "decline by half"?

A concise alternative to "decline by half" is to use the verb "halve". For example, "The company's profits were halved".

Is it correct to say "declined by half" or should I use another tense?

Both "decline by half" and "declined by half" are correct, depending on the tense required. Use "decline by half" for present or future tense, and "declined by half" for past tense. For example, "Sales will decline by half next quarter" versus "Sales declined by half last quarter".

What are some other ways to express a 50% reduction?

Other ways to express a 50% reduction include "decrease by 50 percent", "drop by 50%", or "fall by half".