declines by one

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declines by one" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are describing a decrease in quantity or value, specifically indicating that the amount is reduced by one unit. Example: "The number of participants in the study declines by one each week as some individuals drop out."

✓ Grammatically correct

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The New York Times

The Washington Post

The New Yorker

BBC

Vice

Huffington Post

BMC Family Practice

BMC Plant Biology

UNICEF

Encyclopedia Britannica

Forbes

Applied Petrochemical Research

The Economist

The Guardian

Princeton University

Demographic Research

Global health, science and practice

Unicef

Harvard University

Global Health Action

Vice

BioMed Research International

British Medical Journal

Journal of Economic Structures

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

Demographic Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Each row has a value of 25 for t and a declining value for x, where the value of x declines by one year between each row.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The cost of maintaining American military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan could total $50 billion in 2005 alone, even if the number of troops there declines by one-third.

The New York Times

Average SAT scores in reading and writing declined by one point this year, while math scores held steady, according to a report on the high school class of 2009 released Tuesday by the College Board.

The New York Times

But the number of students at grade level declined by one percentage point from last year.

The New York Times

According to the Internet measurement firm Nielsen/NetRatings, traffic to KaZaA declined by one million unique visitors the week ended July 6, after the announcement by the Recording Industry Association of America.

The New York Times

Despite the demands of mission in Afghanistan - the first 'hot' ground war fought in NATO history - total European defense spending declined, by one estimate, by nearly 15percentt in the decade following 9/11.

The Washington Post

It is the growth rate of the annual average gross domestic product -- currently 8percentt -- that is likely to decline by one percentage point, not the annual average gross domestic product itself.

The New York Times

Online sales during Thanksgiving weekend broke all previous records, garnering more than five billion dollars (up eighteen per cent from last year), according to Adobe data cited in a Bloomberg article, while sales at brick-and-mortar retail stores declined by one per cent.

The New Yorker

Online sales during Thanksgiving weekend broke all previous records, garnering more than five billion dollars (up eighteen per cent from last year), according to Adobe data cited in a Bloomberg article, while sales at brick-and-mortar retail stores declined by one per cent.

The New Yorker

The research says that Japan's population will keep declining by one million people every year in coming decades.

BBC

The number of heavy smog days declined by one to 46 days.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "declines by one" when you need to clearly and concisely express a reduction of exactly one unit, especially in statistical or numerical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "declines by one" when referring to percentage decreases. Instead, specify "declines by one percentage point" or use appropriate percentage notation (e.g., declines by 1%).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declines by one" functions as a descriptive term, specifically indicating a reduction in quantity by a single unit. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "declines by one" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a specific decrease of one unit. As per Ludwig AI, its correctness is confirmed, making it suitable for various contexts, particularly those requiring accuracy in quantitative descriptions. While very common in news, science and formal business settings, it can also appear in academic and encyclopedic content. Remember to avoid using it when describing percentage decreases. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "decreases by one" or "falls by one", depending on the level of formality desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Decreases by one

Replaces "declines" with the synonym "decreases", maintaining the same grammatical structure.

Reduces by one

Substitutes "declines" with "reduces", keeping the meaning virtually identical.

Falls by one

Uses "falls" instead of "declines", providing a slightly more informal tone.

Drops by one

Employs "drops" as a substitute for "declines", offering a more casual alternative.

Is reduced by one

Changes the structure to passive voice while preserving the core meaning.

Goes down by one

Offers a more conversational way to express the same concept.

Lessens by one

Replaces "declines" with "lessens", indicating a reduction in amount.

Diminishes by one

Uses "diminishes" for a more formal and emphatic reduction.

The decrease is one

Restructures the sentence to emphasize the amount of decrease.

Experiences a reduction of one

Provides a more formal and detailed way of stating the decrease.

FAQs

How can I use "declines by one" in a sentence?

You can use "declines by one" to indicate a decrease of exactly one unit. For example: "The number of errors "declines by one" each day."

What are some alternatives to "declines by one"?

Some alternatives include "decreases by one", "reduces by one", or "falls by one", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "declines of one" instead of "declines by one"?

While "declines of one" might be understood, ""declines by one"" is the more standard and grammatically correct way to express a reduction of one unit.

When should I use "declines by one" versus "declines by a small amount"?

Use ""declines by one"" when you want to specify a precise decrease of one unit. Use "declines by a small amount" when the decrease is not precisely quantified or is relatively insignificant.