declined steadily

USAGE SUMMARY

"declined steadily" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe any situation that steadily decreased in quantity or value over time. For example: "Sales of the product declined steadily after its initial launch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

… declined steadily.

The New York Times

Membership declined steadily thereafter.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Gonorrhea cases then declined steadily.

The New York Times

His reputation declined steadily after 1930.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Since the 1960s manufacturing has declined steadily.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But grosses have since declined steadily.

The New York Times

His output declined steadily in later years.

The New York Times - Arts

The downtown area has declined steadily.

The New York Times

The cardiovascular death rate declined steadily — but only in men.

Harvard University

Stocks started lower and declined steadily throughout the day.

The New York Times

Since February, though, the shares have declined steadily.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "declined steadily" to describe trends or changes that decrease consistently over a period, providing a clear indication of a continuous downward trajectory. For example, "The company's profits declined steadily throughout the year."

Common error

Avoid using "declined steadily" when the decrease is abrupt or inconsistent. "Declined sharply" or "fluctuated" would be more appropriate if the change isn't gradual.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declined steadily" functions as a verb phrase indicating a process of gradual reduction. According to Ludwig AI, it is usable in written English. The verb "declined" describes the direction of change, while the adverb "steadily" modifies the verb, specifying the manner in which the decline occurred.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "declined steadily" is a versatile phrase used to describe a gradual and continuous decrease over time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It finds frequent usage across various domains, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts, reflecting its neutral register. While alternatives exist, such as "decreased gradually" or "fallen continuously", "declined steadily" offers a clear and concise way to convey a continuous downward trend. Remember to use it when the decrease is gradual, not abrupt, to ensure accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreased gradually

Replaces "steadily" with "gradually", emphasizing a slow and progressive reduction.

decreased consistently

Substitutes "steadily" with "consistently", highlighting the continuous nature of the decline.

fallen continuously

Uses "fallen" instead of "declined", focusing on the outcome of the steady decrease.

diminished progressively

Employs "diminished" and "progressively" to suggest a gradual reduction in size or importance.

deteriorated gradually

Shifts from quantitative decline to qualitative deterioration, implying a decline in quality or condition.

receded continuously

Uses "receded" to describe something moving back or away, implying a steady decrease.

lessened incrementally

Highlights the small steps of reduction using "incrementally".

slid downwards consistently

Combines a directional verb with the continuous nature of the decline.

eroded gradually

Suggests a wearing away or gradual destruction.

dropped incrementally

Focuses on discrete drops in value or quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "declined steadily" in a sentence?

You can use "declined steadily" to describe a gradual and continuous decrease over time, such as "The population of the town "declined steadily" over the past decade".

What are some alternatives to "declined steadily"?

Alternatives include "decreased gradually", "fallen continuously", or "diminished progressively", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "declined steadily" formal or informal?

"Declined steadily" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although more formal settings might prefer synonyms like "decreased consistently".

What's the difference between "declined steadily" and "declined sharply"?

"Declined steadily" indicates a gradual decrease over time, while "declined sharply" suggests a sudden and rapid drop. The choice depends on the actual rate of decrease.