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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
declined upon
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "declined upon" is not correct and is not usable in written English.
It seems to be a misinterpretation of the phrase "declined" which does not typically pair with "upon." Example: "He declined the offer."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Wiki
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
14 human-written examples
Prednisolone release initially followed Higuchi's equation and declined upon reducing total monomer PG concentration.
The stiffness of all samples declined upon prolonged incubation in medium, especially for samples prepared by diffusion.
Despite similar viral load (Figure 1, upper panels), levels of CXCL-10 and IL-6 in nasal wash showed no increase but further declined upon the second HRV inoculation, and a similar trend was observed for IL-10 (Figure 2).
Not having read the novel, Reeve showed initial interest in the role, but ultimately declined upon realizing that Verger was a quadriplegic, facially-disfigured child rapist.
Wiki
In concordance with MEF data sets, phosphotyrosine levels declined upon PINCH1 knockdown without dependence on adhesion or suspension (Fig. 10A and B).
Science
The waist circumference declined upon elevation of plasma T. Waist circumference is a key diagnostic marker of the metabolic syndrome.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
46 human-written examples
Were the shares publicly traded, their trading value would almost certainly decline upon issuance, since every dollar invested buys, at most, 88 cents of assets.
News & Media
Previous studies have suggested that anti-RR titer increases throughout the duration of therapy, but declines upon cessation of treatment [11, 12, 15, 31].
Science
As such, the mass activity of the Pd@Pt2−3L/C catalyst kept increasing up to 10,000 cycles of repeated sweeping and then started to decline upon further cycling.
Science
Additionally, the in vitro digestibility of proteins in tree locust has been shown to decline upon toasting and boiling, as the tannin and phytate content increased as a result of these treatments.
c-Myc protein levels have been shown to rapidly decline upon CHX treatment [32].
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid using the phrase "declined upon" in formal writing. While it appears in some sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Use alternatives like "declined after" or "decreased following" for clarity and correctness.
Common error
A common mistake is to follow "decline" with "upon", perhaps influenced by similar-sounding phrases. "Decline" typically doesn't take "upon"; use "decline" followed by a direct object or an adverbial phrase specifying the condition or reason for declining.
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "declined upon" functions as a verb followed by a preposition, intending to indicate that something decreased or was refused because of something else. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is considered incorrect. It is a misinterpreted use of "decline."
Frequent in
Science
47%
News & Media
26%
Wiki
7%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "declined upon" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. It attempts to express a decrease or refusal resulting from something, but more precise and grammatically sound alternatives like "decreased after" or "diminished following" are preferable. Given its questionable validity, especially in formal contexts, writers should exercise caution and opt for clearer, more standard phrasings. Despite being relatively common across domains like Science and News, the phrase's grammatical status warrants careful consideration.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
decreased after
Replaces "declined upon" with a simpler phrasing indicating a reduction following an event.
diminished following
Uses synonyms for "declined" and "upon" to express a decrease that occurs after something.
fell after
A more direct synonym indicating a drop subsequent to a specific event.
reduced when
Emphasizes a reduction simultaneous with or closely following a condition.
waned after
Implies a gradual decrease after an initiating event.
rejected
Focuses on the act of refusing or turning something down.
turned down
A colloquial substitute for 'declined', suggesting a polite refusal.
refused
Emphasizes a firm unwillingness to accept something.
turned away
Implies a rejection or refusal of someone or something.
said no to
An informal way of expressing refusal or rejection.
FAQs
Is "declined upon" grammatically correct?
No, "declined upon" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use alternatives like "declined after" or rephrase the sentence to avoid the construction altogether.
What can I say instead of "declined upon"?
Alternatives include "decreased after", "diminished following", or simply using "declined" followed by a more appropriate preposition or conjunction.
When is it appropriate to use "declined"?
"Declined" is appropriate when referring to a decrease in something or a polite refusal of something offered. It's often used with a direct object (e.g., "He declined the offer") or with adverbs indicating the rate of decline (e.g., "Sales declined sharply").
What's the difference between "declined upon" and "declined after"?
"Declined upon" is generally not considered correct. "Declined after" is a better alternative, indicating that something decreased following a specific event or condition.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested