decrease to zero

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decrease to zero" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when talking about a decrease in a numerical amount or quantity to no amount or quantity. For example, "The number of employees decreased to zero after the company went out of business."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Their equilibrium pressure, however, decreases to zero with time, probably because the maximum impactor mass is supposed to decrease to zero with time in their model.

Earth, Planets and Space

March , 1972 hearings on asbestos safety, at which industry testified that it would be too costly to institute anything less than a 5-fibre-per-cubic-cm.-of-air standard for asbestos dust, & labor said that anything above zero (they desired a 2-fibre standard which would in 2-yrs. time decrease to zero levels) was hazardous.

The New Yorker

u, and finally decrease to zero as (urightarrowinfty).

Advances in Difference Equations

However, for n > N the coverage will rapidly decrease to zero.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

All local heat transfer profiles decrease to zero at the separation point.

International Journal of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

The stresses then decrease to zero from this point to the die which is in agreement with experimental observations.

Powder Technology

That is, the steady-state error between the GNN solution and the theoretical solution can not decrease to zero.

Neurocomputing

Then there exists a sequence such that { ( m i − c ) 1 / p a m i } i = 1 ∞ decrease to zero.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Initially the voltages of the capacitors on the DC side of a VSC quickly decrease to zero.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

At a location near both ends, the pitch and rotation angle decrease to zero in a gradual manner, and then reverse.

Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering

However, coercivity H c does not decrease to zero and its value approaches to the intrinsic H c of particles without exchange bias.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decrease to zero", ensure the context clearly indicates what is decreasing and the units of measurement involved, if applicable. For example, "The temperature will decrease to zero degrees Celsius."

Common error

Avoid using "decrease to zero" in situations where a complete elimination isn't realistic or intended. For example, saying "Mistakes should decrease to zero" might be unrealistic; instead, aim for "minimize mistakes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decrease to zero" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the process of something diminishing until it reaches a value of zero. Ludwig provides numerous examples in scientific and general contexts where quantities, values, or levels reduce to nil.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

82%

News & Media

9%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decrease to zero" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the process of something diminishing until it reaches a value of zero. As shown by Ludwig, it is frequently found in scientific and technical writing, as well as in news and media. The Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. While alternatives like "decline to zero" or "fall to zero" exist, "decrease to zero" remains a direct and widely understood way to convey complete reduction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decline to zero

Uses 'decline' as a synonym for 'decrease', suggesting a gradual reduction.

fall to zero

Emphasizes a downward trend culminating in zero.

drop to zero

Implies a sudden and rapid reduction to zero.

diminish to zero

Suggests a gradual fading away until nothing remains.

recede to zero

Evokes an image of something moving back or away until it disappears completely.

vanish to zero

Implies a complete and often mysterious disappearance.

converge to zero

Suggests a gradual approach towards zero from different directions.

be reduced to nothing

A more descriptive way of saying something has been brought down to zero.

dwindle to nothing

Highlights a progressive reduction until complete absence.

fade into oblivion

A more figurative way of expressing the complete disappearance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "decrease to zero" in a sentence?

You can use "decrease to zero" to describe a situation where a quantity or value reduces until it reaches zero. For example, "After the recall, sales of the product "decreased to zero"".

What are some alternatives to saying "decrease to zero"?

Alternatives include "decline to zero", "fall to zero", or "drop to zero" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "decrease to zero" or "reach zero"?

"Decrease to zero" implies a process of reduction leading to zero, while "reach zero" simply states the final value. Use "decrease to zero" when emphasizing the reduction process.

Can "decrease to zero" be used figuratively?

Yes, "decrease to zero" can be used figuratively to describe a situation where something metaphorical diminishes completely, such as "hopes "decrease to zero" after repeated failures".