declining in quality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declining in quality" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something is becoming worse or less effective over time. Example: "The service at the restaurant has been declining in quality, leading to fewer customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

A significant part of that environment is our food, and that is declining in quality over time,' says Thomas.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Consequently, even more of our products and services are declining in quality, poor quality has become acceptable and we've become a throw-away society.

The New York Times

For years, the pair ploughed until they began to notice that their soil was not just declining in quality, but vanishing.

The Guardian

"The cocktails aren't declining in quality at all, but they're also not progressing," said Camper English, a San Francisco liquor journalist.

The New York Times - Food

But the mixed messages also highlight the challenge of trying to figure out where wages are headed: Not only are the sources of the data volatile, but economists say they may also be declining in quality.

The New York Times

And while Google keyword search is incredibly efficient, the content it points us to is unfortunately declining in quality.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Those that remain may decline in quality.

The New York Times

Granted, Specimen Days declines in quality as it goes along.

The Guardian - Books

After this movie, Curtis's career declined in quality, if not quantity.

The Guardian - Film

Its original orchestra, which consisted mainly of Swiss musicians, gradually declined in quality and went out of business in 1993.

The New York Times - Arts

If the nation's public schools had actually declined in quality, this slide in public perception would be warranted.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "declining in quality", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is experiencing the decline. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "declining in quality" without specifying the subject. For example, instead of saying "Quality is declining", state "The service at the restaurant is declining in quality" to provide clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declining in quality" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun by describing its current state of diminishing quality. Ludwig confirms this usage, indicating its acceptability in written English. Examples show it describing food, soil, products, and services.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "declining in quality" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to describe something that is becoming worse over time. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, presenting examples from diverse and reliable sources. While not extremely common, the phrase appears across news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what exactly is "declining in quality". Alternatives like "deteriorating in quality" or "waning in quality" can offer nuanced emphasis on the nature of the decline.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deteriorating in quality

This alternative suggests a gradual worsening of quality over time.

degrading in quality

This phrase emphasizes a decline in quality that leads to a lower state or condition.

waning in quality

This suggests a gradual decrease in quality, similar to the waning of the moon.

reducing in quality

This option focuses on the act of diminishing quality.

diminishing in quality

This alternative highlights a lessening of quality.

slipping in quality

This suggests a gradual and often unnoticed decline in quality.

falling in quality

Emphasizes a downward trend in the level of quality.

losing quality

This phrase simply states the loss of quality without specifying the rate of decline.

experiencing a decline in quality

This alternative uses a more formal and descriptive tone.

undergoing quality degradation

This option uses more technical terms to describe the decline in quality.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "declining in quality" to sound more formal?

You could use phrases like "experiencing a decline in quality" or "undergoing quality degradation" to convey a more formal tone.

What are some alternatives to "declining in quality" that emphasize a gradual decline?

Alternatives such as "deteriorating in quality", "waning in quality", or "slipping in quality" can highlight the gradual nature of the decline.

How does "declining in quality" differ from "losing quality"?

"Declining in quality" suggests a continuous process of degradation, while "losing quality" simply states that quality is being lost without specifying if the change is gradual or sudden.

Is it correct to say something is "declining in its quality"?

While understandable, it's more common and grammatically sound to say something is "declining in quality". The possessive pronoun "its" is redundant in this context.