decrease in mass

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decrease in mass" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in scientific contexts, particularly when discussing changes in weight or mass of an object or substance. Example: "The experiment showed a significant decrease in mass after the chemical reaction occurred."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

The size and shape of the heart, for example, changes with microgravity and the right and left ventricles decrease in mass.

Independent

Open image in new window Fig. 9 Relative decrease in mass after freeze thaw resistance test.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

We attribute the observed decrease in mass to OH− expulsion from the electrode surface.

Electrochimica Acta

The large decrease in mass reduction and energy released are indicative of the organic nature of the biomass.

Applied Water Science

Retardation in the fluid flow and a decrease in mass flux are observed with an increase in thermal radiation.

Boundary Value Problems

But catalysts D and E show no peak in Fig. 8b, it means a continuous decrease in mass of AP occur over whole temperature range of decomposition.

Chemistry Central Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

We're seeing is this decrease in mass-market publications because people are seeing through it.

Huffington Post

In those cases, the decrease in mass-specific metabolic rate is smaller than the decreases in mass-specific biosynthesis cost, thus, the mass-specific maintenance efforts still increase (see Method and Results sections).

BMC Systems Biology

Nearly all glaciers are decreasing in mass, resulting in rising sea levels as the water drains to the ocean.

The Guardian

All specimens immersed in the 5 % HCl aqueous solution decreased in mass with the passage of time.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

If the stars do not get close to Roche lobe overflow (RLOF), the stars in a binary evolve effectively as single stars, slowly decreasing in mass and increasing in radius and luminosity until the remnant stage.

Computational Astrophysics and Cosmology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical reports, accompany the phrase with specific measurements (e.g., "a 15% decrease in mass") to provide necessary context.

Common error

Avoid using "decrease in mass" when discussing casual topics like dieting or exercise unless you are writing a clinical study. In daily conversation, people typically refer to a "reduction in weight" or simply "losing weight".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decrease in mass" serves as a complex noun phrase. The word "decrease" acts as the head noun, which is modified by the prepositional phrase "in mass" to specify exactly what is being reduced. In Ludwig AI examples, it often appears as the subject or the direct object within descriptions of experimental observations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

82%

Academia

10%

News & Media

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decrease in mass" is a cornerstone of precise English writing, particularly within the scientific community. Validated by Ludwig AI as both grammatically correct and stylistically appropriate for formal contexts, it is the preferred way to describe a reduction in matter. Unlike more colloquial terms, it maintains a neutral, objective tone that is vital for research papers, technical documentation, and authoritative news reporting. Whether you are describing a chemical reaction, a biological process, or a planetary phenomenon, using this phrase ensures your writing remains clear and professionally grounded. For those seeking variety, closely related alternatives like "reduction in mass" provide a similar level of sophistication without losing technical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

loss of mass

Often used to describe a permanent or resulting state of mass being gone.

reduction in mass

Slightly more formal, often implying an intentional or calculated change.

mass loss

A more concise, compound noun version of the phrase.

mass decrease

Reverses the word order for a more direct noun phrase.

mass reduction

Places the emphasis on the act of reducing rather than the result.

weight loss

Common in biological contexts, though technically different from mass in physics.

diminution of mass

Highly formal and academic, rarely used in general news.

drop in mass

More informal or observational, common in lab notes or reporting.

declining mass

Suggests an ongoing or continuous process of reduction.

depletion of mass

Implies a resource being used up or exhausted.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "decrease in mass"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "mass loss", "reduction in mass", or "loss of mass".

Is it "decrease in mass" or "decrease of mass"?

While both are occasionally used, "decrease in mass" is significantly more common in scientific literature to describe the change in a specific property.

What is the difference between "decrease in mass" and "weight loss"?

A "decrease in mass" refers to an actual reduction in the amount of matter in an object, while "weight loss" refers to the reduction of the force exerted on that object by gravity.

How do I use "decrease in mass" in a sentence?

You can use it in sentences like: "The chemical reaction resulted in a measurable decrease in mass due to gas expulsion."