decline down

USAGE SUMMARY

"decline down" is not a standard phrase in written English.
Instead, you could use the phrase "decline" or "go down" depending on the context. For example, "The stock market continued to decline down last month."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

After an early rise Compass shares have succumbed to the market decline, down 3.5p at 556.5p.

The Guardian - Business

A Street Cat Named Bob is another title experiencing a very small decline – down just 12% from its opening session.

The Guardian - Film

But its ratings have been in long-term decline, down 20% last year to an average of 2.3 million viewers.

The Guardian

Yesterday Greene King made clear like-for-like profits since its July update had begun to decline, down about 3.4%.

The Guardian - Business

But the family meal, or "primary eating", is in decline – down to 67 minutes a day, Pollan says.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Meanwhile, industrial production continued to decline, down by 3.9% in the year to April, to its lowest level since July 1999.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

African-American teenagers showed the sharpest declines, down more than 40percentt since 1991.

The New York Times - Health

aQuantive, Digitas and Sabre Holdings led the declines, down 3.8%, 2.2% and 1.9%, respectively.

Forbes

Kellogg's market share is declining, down as much as three percentage points from 1977.

Forbes

Thus, the EQE values for wavelengths below 450 nm were lower for a bare solar cell, declining down to 5% at a wavelength of 350 nm.

Nanoscale Research Letters

In all of these cases, the production rate declined down to less than 50% after several months, and the membrane life shortened to about 1 year.

Desalination

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "decline down" in formal writing. Opt for single-word alternatives like "decline", "decrease", or "fall" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

The phrase "decline down" is redundant because "decline" already implies a downward direction or reduction. Using "down" is unnecessary and weakens the writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decline down" functions as a verb phrase attempting to describe a reduction or downward trend. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it is considered non-standard due to the redundant use of "down".

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decline down" is considered grammatically incorrect due to the redundancy of "down". As Ludwig AI points out, "decline" already implies a downward direction. Therefore, it's best to use alternatives such as "decline", "decrease", or "fall", which are grammatically sound and widely accepted. Using "decline down" can weaken your writing and is not recommended in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decrease

This alternative is a single word, simplifying the two-word phrase into a more concise term for reduction.

fall

This alternative replaces "decline" with a simpler term indicating a reduction in quantity or quality.

go down

This alternative uses a more common and straightforward phrase to describe a decrease or reduction.

reduce

This alternative focuses on the action of making something smaller or less.

diminish

This alternative suggests a gradual reduction, often in importance or intensity.

descend

This alternative implies a movement from a higher to a lower point, whether literal or figurative.

plummet

This alternative indicates a rapid and significant drop.

drop

This alternative provides a simple and direct way to express a reduction.

sink

This alternative suggests a gradual downward movement, often with negative connotations.

wane

This alternative conveys a decrease in power, influence, or extent.

FAQs

What does "decline down" mean?

While the phrase "decline down" may seem intuitive, it's grammatically redundant. "Decline" already implies a downward movement or decrease. It's better to simply use "decline".

Is it correct to say "decline down"?

No, it is not considered correct. The word "decline" already suggests a downward trend or decrease, making the addition of "down" unnecessary and grammatically incorrect. Use "decline" alone.

What can I say instead of "decline down"?

Instead of "decline down", use alternatives like "decrease", "fall", or "go down" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "decline" and "decline down"?

"Decline" means to decrease or worsen. "Decline down" is redundant because "decline" already implies a downward direction. Therefore, "decline" is the preferred and grammatically correct option.