decrease down

USAGE SUMMARY

'decrease down' is not a correct phrase in written English.
You could use the phrase 'decrease gradually' or 'go down' instead. Example: We wanted to decrease our expenses gradually this year.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

The thickness of the twin domains tends to decrease down to nano-scale with a decrease in the substrate temperature.

Surface and Coatings Technology

This contribution briefly recollects microtechnological achievements with swift heavy ions that began already in the 1970s, preparing the ground for gradual size decrease down to the nanoscopic objects now under study.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

During release they all show highest aqueous and solid concentrations at the release point, while quickly decrease down gradient.

Geochemical Transactions

Once the boresight directivity reaches the extremely maximum value with sufficient accuracy, the beam squint angle will decrease down to an allowable value.

Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering

Therefore the system CPU load appears to initially increase up to 100 offerings and then decrease down to PuLSaR average CPU usage level, which as already explained becomes constant at high offering numbers.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

In our simulations, the combination of the two described phenomena causes the source node sending rate to decrease down to values in the order of one packet per second (i.e., the minimum TCP RTO).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The aim of this work was to investigate perceived loudness change in response to melodies that increase (up-ramp) or decrease (down-ramp) in acoustic intensity, and the interaction with other musical factors such as melodic contour, tempo, and tonality (tonal/atonal).

Acta Psychologica

However, it decreased down to a low of 39% under Obama.

The Guardian - Opinion

This strong negative response slightly decreases down to a temperature of approximately 150 K.

Nature

As result the surface roughness can be decreased down to Ra = 0.04 µm.

Procedia CIRP

The ventilation air methane concentration of working face greatly decreased down to about 0.3%.

Procedia Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "decrease down" in formal writing. Opt for more concise and grammatically correct alternatives such as "decrease", "decline", or "go down".

Common error

The word "down" is often unnecessary after "decrease" because "decrease" already implies a downward direction. Using "decrease" alone is usually sufficient and clearer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decrease down" functions as a verb phrase intended to describe a reduction. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect due to the redundancy of "down" after "decrease".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decrease down" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to its redundancy. The verb "decrease" inherently implies a downward direction, making the addition of "down" unnecessary. Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect, suggesting alternatives like "decrease", "decline", or "go down". Although examples exist primarily in scientific contexts, it's best to avoid "decrease down" in formal writing to maintain clarity and conciseness. Opting for stronger, more precise verbs or rephrasing the sentence can enhance the overall quality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go down

A phrasal verb meaning to decrease or become lower.

decline

A more concise synonym for "decrease", omitting "down" for better grammar.

fall

A simple and direct verb indicating a reduction in quantity or quality.

reduce

Implies making something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.

lower

To cause to become smaller or less.

gradually decrease

Replaces the redundant "down" with "gradually" to emphasize the rate of decrease.

lessen

Suggests a reduction in intensity or degree.

diminish

Suggests a gradual reduction, often implying a loss of importance or intensity.

drop

Indicates a sudden or significant decrease.

slump

Suggests a sudden and significant decline, often in a business or economic context.

FAQs

What is wrong with the phrase "decrease down"?

The phrase "decrease down" is considered redundant because the verb "decrease" already implies a downward direction. It's generally better to simply use "decrease".

What can I say instead of "decrease down"?

You can use alternatives like "decline", "reduce", or "go down" depending on the context.

Is it ever correct to use "decrease down"?

While not strictly ungrammatical, "decrease down" is generally considered poor style due to its redundancy. It's best to avoid it in formal writing.

How can I make my writing sound more professional when describing a reduction?

Using strong verbs like "plummet", "dwindle", or "slump" instead of "decrease down" can make your writing more precise and impactful. Consider also rephrasing using "a reduction in".