decrease by one

USAGE SUMMARY

"decrease by one" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to express the idea that a number has been reduced by one. For example, "The number of cars in the parking lot decreased by one after the car left."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

At the start of the algorithm, M will be equal to N (the size of the original network), and its value will decrease by one, each time an access point is switched on, because then, this access point is removed from the investigated set.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Similarly, the MCs decrease by one count every time an element is read from the queue.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

In order to make the impurity content decrease by one order of magnitude, the refining time should be 3 h.

Surface and Coatings Technology

The tornado hazard tends to decrease by one order of magnitude as the separation increases by one order of magnitude.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

This, along with F consists of the first | F | orders from V z ′, means that the number of vehicles used at T z cannot decrease by one.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

In the backoff process, if the medium is sensed idle, the backoff timer will decrease by one for every idle slot detected.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Half-life, in radioactivity, the interval of time required for one-half of the atomic nuclei of a radioactive sample to decay (change spontaneously into other nuclear species by emitting particles and energy), or, equivalently, the time interval required for the number of disintegrations per second of a radioactive material to decrease by one-half.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As a result, the firm is forecasting refinance originations to decrease by one-third this year.

Huffington Post

Assuming that this trend continues, the mortality rate of 39.4 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2006 would decrease by one-third in approximately one decade.

BMC Public Health

And over the last four years, the city's average score on eighth-grade math decreased by one point.

Huffington Post

The number of sullen, argumentative and disruptive influences in the Manchester City dressing room has decreased by one, now that Emmanuel Adebayor has gone on loan to Real Madrid, with a view to a permanent move.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing technical documentation or instructions, using "decrease by one" clearly communicates a reduction of a single unit, ensuring precision and avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "decrease by one" when you actually mean "decrease by one percent" or "decrease by one third". Ensure the context clearly indicates an absolute unit reduction, not a proportional one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decrease by one" functions primarily as a modifier, typically used to describe how a quantity or value is being altered. As Ludwig AI explains, it is a standard expression for indicating a reduction of a single unit.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decrease by one" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a reduction of a single unit. According to Ludwig AI, it is usable in written English to express that something has been reduced by a value of one. It finds frequent use in scientific and technical contexts, as well as news media, to convey precision and clarity. While there are several alternatives, such as "fall by one" or "reduce by a single unit", it’s important to ensure the context clearly indicates an absolute unit reduction and not a proportional one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decrement by one

This is a more formal and technical synonym, often used in programming or mathematical contexts.

fall by one

Suggests a more natural or less controlled reduction.

decline by one

Implies a gradual or continuous reduction.

reduction by one

Focuses on the act of reducing rather than the result.

lessen by one

A slightly less common but still valid alternative, suggesting a diminishing effect.

drop by one

Similar to "fall by one" but can imply a more sudden or abrupt reduction.

go down by one

A more informal and straightforward way to express the same idea.

reduce by a single unit

More verbose, emphasizing the single unit reduction.

lower by one

This alternative is more active and implies an action of lowering something.

subtract one

This is a more mathematical or arithmetic way of expressing the concept.

FAQs

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

You can use "decrease by one" to describe a reduction of a single unit. For example, "After removing one item, the total number of items will "decrease by one"".

What are some alternatives to "decrease by one"?

Alternatives include "fall by one", "decline by one", or "decrement by one", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "reduced by one" instead of "decrease by one"?

Yes, "reduced by one" is a grammatically correct alternative. Both phrases convey the same meaning: a reduction of a single unit. The choice often depends on stylistic preference or the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What's the difference between "decrease by one" and "decrease by a third"?

"Decrease by one" indicates a reduction of a single, whole unit. "Decrease by a third" indicates a proportional reduction, where the amount removed is one-third of the original quantity.