declined to below

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declined to below" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a decrease in value or level, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The temperature declined to below freezing last night."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

By 2013, subscriptions had declined to below fifty thousand.

The New Yorker

The Times had a newsroom staff of more than 1,100 people at the start of this decade, but the number has declined to below 900, officials say.

The New York Times

The interest rate – or yield – on a 10-year UK government gilt declined to below 1.3% at one stage, a record low, as investors anticipated a prolonged period of sluggish growth, weak inflation and low interest rates.

The Guardian - Business

In addition, regardless of whether the construction of new dams isolated the leading edge of the invading population between two dams, the CPUE declined to below detectable limits.

Ecological Engineering

In the early 1980s, the effective Federal Funds rate was close to 15% and declined to below 6% by the middle of that same decade, thanks to a precipitous drop in inflation.

Forbes

Analysis of pollen sterility data in relation to temperature weather charts showed that when the DMT during 13 to 16 of September declined to below 22°C, the pollen grains of developed TGMS lines and C815S had shown reversal to partial fertility around 26 September.

Rice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Serum levels decline to below 10 pg by 6 a.m.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

In the absence of infection, however, PCT levels generally decline to below 1 ng/ml (or 1 μg/l) within 48 hours, pointing to the importance of repeated measurements of PCT with high-sensitivity assays [ 15].

Critical Care

Although it has been reported that the hyperphosphorylation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca-release channel RyR2 persists, the majority of studies suggest that, after a poorly described initial peak, the phosphorylation of PLB declines to below baseline as the β-adrenoceptor signalling pathway down-regulates.

Cardiovascular Research

On the one hand, many countries were achieving rapid poverty reduction, and globally extreme poverty was declining to below the one billion mark.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Similar profiles of hardness and elastic modulus along the coating of about 45 μm thickness is found, and both values in the compact region remain mainly constant before finally declining to below those of the substrate in the outer loose region.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a decrease below a specific threshold, prefer clearer alternatives like "fell below" or "dropped below" for better readability and grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "declined to below" as it is considered grammatically awkward. Opt for simpler and more direct phrases to ensure clarity in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declined to below" functions as a verb phrase indicating a reduction in quantity, quality, or value beneath a specific threshold. It describes the action of something decreasing to a level that is lower than a given point. As noted by Ludwig, the phrasing can be improved for clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "declined to below" is used to describe a decrease to a level beneath a certain point. While fairly common, Ludwig AI notes that the phrase is considered grammatically awkward, suggesting clearer alternatives like "fell below" or "dropped below" for better readability. Predominantly found in science, news media, and encyclopedic sources, it serves to convey information about reductions in measurable terms. For improved clarity and grammatical accuracy, it is advisable to opt for more direct phrasing in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Fell below

Represents a more direct and common way to express a drop beneath a certain level; lacks the implied duration of "declined".

Dropped below

Similar to "fell below" but suggests a more sudden or abrupt decrease.

Decreased to less than

A more formal and explicit way of indicating a reduction, emphasizing the resulting state of being below a specific value.

Reduced beneath

Less common, more formal, highlights the action of reducing something under a certain level.

Slipped under

Suggests a subtle or gradual decline, often used in contexts where the drop is almost unnoticed.

Dipped to under

Implies a quick, temporary decline below a certain point, then potentially recovering.

Lowered to under

Focuses on the action of lowering something, often controlled or intentional.

Diminished to under

Emphasizes a gradual reduction in size or importance to a level below a set standard.

Waned to below

Suggests a gradual fading or weakening until reaching a level beneath a specified point.

Receded to less than

Implies a retreat or withdrawal to a level below a certain threshold, often used in contexts of water levels or economic indicators.

FAQs

What is a better way to phrase "declined to below"?

Instead of "declined to below", consider using phrases like "fell below", "dropped below", or "decreased to less than" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Is "declined to below" grammatically correct?

The phrase "declined to below" is often considered grammatically awkward. It's better to use more direct and commonly accepted alternatives like "fell below" or "decreased to less than".

When should I use "fell below" instead of "declined to below"?

"Fell below" is a more straightforward and widely accepted alternative to "declined to below". Use "fell below" in most contexts where you want to indicate a decrease beneath a certain threshold for better clarity.

What's the difference between "declined to below" and "decreased to less than"?

While both phrases indicate a reduction beneath a certain level, "decreased to less than" is more formal and explicit. "Declined to below" can sound awkward, making "decreased to less than" a preferable choice in formal writing.