declined still

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declined still" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express that something has been declined and continues to be so, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The proposal was declined still, despite the revisions made to address the concerns."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

My father declined; still, the seed was sewn.

The New Yorker

During the first half of the 19th century it declined still further until the coming of railroads brought new growth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Circulation has inevitably declined still further over the past three years, so I can well understand the urge to merge in order to cut costs.

The Guardian

I took away the account books and I will give them to the police.' When we asked her for her name she politely declined still fearing the possibility of retribution.

The Guardian

One American officer at General Lamb's news conference said the attacks had declined still further since the arrest of Mr. Hussein, with only six reported on Monday, which the officer described as "the lowest level since May".

The New York Times

And by the period 1950 1961, mortality had declined still further, to 1.0 per 1000 [ 34].

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"We're watching housing prices decline still," Dr. Pagano added.

The New York Times

If it declines still farther, as others are calling for, that would rewrite British monetary history.

The Economist

Short sellers, who profit when a company's shares decline, still remain highly skeptical of Tyco's new strategy.

The New York Times

Uruguay was in recession, inflation was more than 20 per cent and theTupamaro guerrillas, who had been active for a decade, though declining, still posed a threat.

Independent

In 1998 only 7% of the students with a master's degree continued into PhD study and numbers are declining still further (see table 1).

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To improve clarity, use phrases such as "still declined" or "continued to decline" instead of "declined still". This ensures that the intended meaning is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid placing "still" directly after "declined". This word order can sound unnatural and disrupt the flow of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declined still" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a state of decrease or refusal that persists over time. However, Ludwig indicates that the phrase is not correct, thus its function in written english is not conventional.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "declined still" is grammatically questionable and not commonly used in standard English. While it appears in some sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as incorrect and suggests alternatives like "still declined" or "continued to decline" for better clarity. Its usage is infrequent across various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias, making it advisable to use more conventional phrasing in both formal and informal writing to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Still declined

Inversion of the words to provide a slightly more natural flow.

Continued to decline

Focuses on the ongoing nature of the decline.

Remained in decline

Emphasizes a state of continuous decrease.

Declined further

Highlights an additional degree of reduction.

Yet declined

Implies a contrast between expectation and the act of declining.

However declined

Adds an element of surprise or contradiction.

Even so declined

Shows the action happened despite a contradictory situation.

Nevertheless declined

Indicates that the declining action happened despite something.

Persisted in declining

Emphasizes the steadfast continuation of a decline.

Fell further

Implies a drop or reduction in quantity, quality, or condition.

FAQs

Is "declined still" grammatically correct?

The phrase "declined still" is generally considered grammatically awkward. More common and clearer alternatives include "still declined" or "continued to decline".

What does "declined still" mean?

The intended meaning of "declined still" is that something has been refused or decreased and continues to be so. However, the phrasing is unconventional and can be unclear. It's better to use phrases like "remained in decline" or "declined further".

Can I use "declined still" in formal writing?

It is advisable to avoid using "declined still" in formal writing due to its awkwardness. Opt for clearer and more grammatically accepted phrases like "nevertheless declined" or "yet declined" to maintain professionalism and clarity.

What are some alternatives to "declined still"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "declined nevertheless", "continued to fall", or "remained in rejection". These options provide clearer and more natural phrasing.