decrease gradually

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decrease gradually" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a slow or incremental reduction in quantity, size, or intensity over time. Example: "The temperature is expected to decrease gradually as the sun sets."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Interestingly, the Bacillariophyta phylum demonstrated a great abundance before and after oil contamination, showing a gradual increase after oil contamination while Nematoda decrease gradually after exposure (Figure 2b).

Plosone

The duties, scheduled to decrease gradually, have dropped considerably already, to about 43.5percentt from more than 115percentt.

The New York Times

And as your weight increases gradually, your confidence and happiness decrease gradually, and you really don't notice it".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Growth hormone secretion and serum IGF-1 concentrations decrease gradually with age.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"During the next five years, the Administration expects the pace of homebuilding to decrease gradually because of demographic trends and slowly rising long-term interest rates.

The New York Times

At longer distance, the PL enhancement decrease gradually [32 35].

Nanoscale Research Letters

Generally, enzyme activity will decrease gradually by time during storage.

Chemistry Central Journal

Fascination and boredom ratings tended to decrease gradually over the course of the experiment.

Food Quality and Preference

The uniform elongation and the strain hardening coefficient decrease gradually when the strain rate increases.

Journal of Materials Processing Technology

Meanwhile, the total HMW PAH concentrations decrease gradually when biochar particle size increasing.

Procedia Environmental Sciences

After this point, the concrete cracks and strength decrease gradually to zero (Willam and Warnke 1975).

International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering (IJASE)

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decrease gradually", ensure the context provides a clear understanding of what is decreasing and over what period the decrease occurs. For example, specify if you're referring to temperature, population, or value.

Common error

Avoid using "decrease gradually" repetitively in the same document, especially in technical or scientific writing. Vary your language by incorporating synonyms like "decline steadily" or "diminish slowly" to enhance readability and prevent monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decrease gradually" functions as a verb phrase acting as the predicate of a sentence, modifying a verb to indicate a slow and incremental reduction. As seen in Ludwig, it often describes trends or changes over time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

78%

News & Media

18%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decrease gradually" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to describe a slow and incremental reduction. Ludwig AI confirms its wide applicability, particularly in scientific and news contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the subject undergoing reduction and the timeframe involved. While synonyms like "decline steadily" or "diminish slowly" can enhance your writing, avoid overuse within the same text. In conclusion, "decrease gradually" is a versatile phrase with a clear, consistent meaning that remains valuable across varied writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lessen gradually

Synonymous replacement of "decrease" with "lessen", indicating a reduction in amount or intensity at a gradual rate.

decline steadily

Replaces "decrease" with "decline" and "gradually" with "steadily", emphasizing a consistent downward trend.

fall slowly

A more straightforward alternative, using "fall" to describe a slow descent or decrease.

diminish slowly

Substitutes "decrease" with "diminish" and "gradually" with "slowly", highlighting a reduction in size or importance at a moderate pace.

recede progressively

Uses "recede" instead of "decrease", suggesting a withdrawal or retreat in a gradual manner.

wane incrementally

Replaces "decrease" with "wane", implying a gradual decline in power or influence, modified by "incrementally".

taper off

An idiomatic phrase suggesting a reduction to a point or end, implying a gradual decrease.

subside gently

Uses "subside" to indicate a gradual lessening or calming down, coupled with "gently" to emphasize the smooth pace.

attenuate progressively

A more formal substitution, with "attenuate" meaning to reduce in force or intensity, modified by "progressively".

peter out

An idiomatic phrase indicating a gradual ending or exhaustion of something.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "decrease gradually" in a sentence?

To effectively use "decrease gradually", specify what is decreasing and the timeframe. For example, "The fever is expected to "decrease gradually" over the next 24 hours" clearly indicates both the subject (fever) and the expected timeline.

What are some alternatives to "decrease gradually" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "decline steadily", "diminish slowly", or "recede progressively" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it more appropriate to say "decrease gradually" or "decrease rapidly"?

The choice between ""decrease gradually"" and "decrease rapidly" depends entirely on the rate at which something is decreasing. "Decrease gradually" implies a slow, incremental reduction, while "decrease rapidly" suggests a fast, sharp decline.

What's the difference between "decrease gradually" and "decline steadily"?

While both phrases suggest a reduction over time, ""decrease gradually"" emphasizes the incremental nature of the reduction, whereas "decline steadily" highlights the consistent pace of the reduction. The subtle difference depends on whether you want to stress the pace or the increments.