decrease it down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decrease it down" is not correct in standard written English.
The word "decrease" already implies a reduction, so adding "down" is redundant. Example: "We need to decrease our expenses this quarter."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The player can increase the rate as desired to a maximum of 99, and later decrease it down to, but not lower than, the initial rate.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But unfortunately if you see the graph it has started decreasing down, and it is coming down' (Doctor 3).

Human Resources for Health

In contrast, DMA produced a slow, steady and sustained decrease of pHi, bringing it down by 0.2 1.0 pH units from baseline, with an average decrease of 0.5 ± 0.07 pH units (Fig. 2A).

BMC Endocrine Disorders

Decrease back down to the number of stitches you used for your i-cord.

WikiHow

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

The Guardian - Opinion

Water use efficiency (WUE) achieved the highest values in limited soil water availability (between 4.51 and 4.83 g l−1), whilst in non-limiting water conditions it decreased down to 2.56 and 3.49 g l−1 (in the second and third year of experiment, respectively).

Industrial Crops and Products

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

Surface and Coatings Technology

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

Above this temperature, the value of AI monotonously decreases down to its minimum at 0 °C when all the ice melts.

Colloid and Polymer Science

Exports fell 9.9percentt, compared with a 1.2percentt drop in the first quarter; imports decreased 6.7percentt, down from a 5.0 fall.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using redundant phrases like "decrease it down". Instead, use simpler and more direct alternatives such as "reduce it" or "lower it".

Common error

Using "decrease it down" is redundant because "decrease" already implies a reduction. Overusing such phrases can make your writing sound less professional and more verbose. Prefer concise alternatives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decrease it down" functions as a verb phrase intended to express reduction. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect due to redundancy, since the word "decrease" already implies a downward direction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decrease it down" is considered grammatically incorrect due to the redundancy of the word "down". Ludwig AI flags it as such, recommending simpler alternatives like "reduce it" or "lower it". While examples exist across various sources, including science, news, and wiki content, its usage is infrequent. It is best to avoid "decrease it down" in formal writing to maintain clarity and precision. Using the suggested alternatives will ensure grammatically correct and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce it

This alternative is a more concise and grammatically correct way to express the idea of making something smaller or less.

lower it

This alternative suggests bringing something to a lower level or amount.

lessen it

This alternative implies making something smaller in size, extent, or degree.

diminish it

This alternative suggests a gradual decrease in size, importance, or intensity.

scale it back

This alternative is more informal and suggests reducing the size or scope of something.

cut it back

This alternative suggests a sharp or sudden reduction in something.

trim it down

This alternative is similar to "reduce it" but often used in the context of making something neater or more efficient.

bring it down

This alternative simply means reduce something.

curtail it

This alternative means reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on.

abate it

This alternative means something perceived as hostile, threatening, or negative becomes less widespread or intense.

FAQs

What does "decrease" mean?

The word "decrease" means to become or make less; diminish gradually in size, amount, intensity, or number.

What can I say instead of "decrease it down"?

You can use alternatives like "reduce it", "lower it", or "lessen it" depending on the context.

Why is "decrease it down" considered incorrect?

The phrase is redundant because the word "decrease" already implies a downward direction or reduction. Adding "down" is unnecessary and grammatically awkward.

Is there a situation where "decrease...down" is acceptable?

While "decrease it down" is generally not recommended, you might encounter it in informal speech. However, it's best to avoid it in formal writing. Use "reduce it" or other alternatives for clarity and correctness.