declines over time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declines over time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a gradual decrease in quantity, quality, or intensity of something as time progresses. Example: "The population of the species has been observed to decline over time due to habitat loss and climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Children with lower reading skills initially have a high FA, but it declines over time.

Stanford University

Tea bushes can live for well over 100 years, though production declines over time.

The New York Times

The benefit declines over time, with the apartment owner paying full taxes after 10 years.

The New York Times

As the active labor force declines over time, so does GDP.

Harvard Business Review

A. Testosterone gradually declines over time in all men, but this does not necessarily lead to health problems.

Harvard University

The magnitude of assortative mixing by discipline remains stable over time, whereas that by publication foci declines over time.

Journal of Informetrics

But per-user revenue declines over time, he said, "because most new users don't use their phones as much".

The New York Times

It is found that the female immigrants' quality declines over time, with the decline in the most recent 10 years less obvious than in the previous two decades.

Princeton University

However, since clinician adherence to CR recommendations is quite variable and declines over time, we conducted observations to determine barriers and facilitators to the effective use of CRs.

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association

And Mr Ryan places a ten-year nominal freeze on non-defence discretionary spending (meaning that the real value of spending declines over time, assuming there is inflation).

The Economist

It confirmed the declines over time in student performances that the initial 1995 survey of students in the United States and 42 other nations indicated.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "declines over time", ensure the context clearly indicates what is decreasing and the timeframe involved. Quantify the decline if possible to provide more specific information.

Common error

Avoid using "declines over time" when the phenomenon actually fluctuates or increases at certain points. Ensure the overall trend is consistently downward before using this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declines over time" functions as a verb phrase indicating a process or trend of decreasing or deteriorating over a period. Ludwig examples confirm this usage across diverse contexts, such as performance, revenue, and health.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

37%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "declines over time" effectively communicates a downward trend or deterioration, as evidenced by Ludwig's numerous examples across scientific, news, and academic domains. Grammatically sound and frequently used, it serves to inform, explain, or warn about diminishing qualities or quantities. While versatile, it's crucial to ensure its accurate representation of consistently downward trends. Alternatives such as "decreases over time" and "diminishes over time" offer subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreases over time

Replaces "declines" with a more general term for reduction.

diminishes over time

Similar to decreases, but suggests a gradual fading or lessening.

deteriorates over time

Implies a worsening condition or quality.

wanes over time

Suggests a gradual decrease in power, intensity, or extent.

fades over time

Indicates a gradual loss of visibility, audibility, or strength.

falls over time

Replaces "declines" with a more abrupt, downwards motion.

lessens over time

Highlights a reduction in amount, degree, or intensity.

abates over time

Implies a reduction in something negative, like pain or a storm.

regresses over time

Suggests a return to a former, less developed state.

decays over time

Implies a gradual decomposition or loss of effectiveness.

FAQs

What does "declines over time" mean?

The phrase "declines over time" signifies a gradual decrease or deterioration in something as time passes. It implies a downward trend that unfolds as time progresses.

What can I say instead of "declines over time"?

You can use alternatives like "decreases over time", "diminishes over time", or "deteriorates over time" depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to say "decline over time" or "declines over time"?

While both phrases can be grammatically correct, "declines over time" is more commonly used when referring to a general trend. "Decline over time" is more often used as a verb, indicating an action of decreasing. Consider if you wish to emphasize an action or a state.

How can I make my use of "declines over time" more specific?

To enhance specificity, quantify the decline (e.g., "declines by 10% over time") or specify the factors contributing to the decline (e.g., "declines over time due to market saturation").