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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
decrease up to
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "decrease up to" is not correct to use in English.
You could use "decrease by up to" or "decrease as much as" instead. Example sentence: The discount on our products can decrease by up to 25%.
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(20)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
It is seen that as non-uniformity in temperature distribution increases in both types of temperature distribution, heat losses from receiver pipes decrease up to 10%.
LST averages stay stable or slightly decrease (up to − 1.5 K) over the whole continent, except for southern areas for which the increase is up to 2.5 K.
For example, the modified drag has a possibility to decrease up to approximately 60% of the original value due to an appropriate shape.
Ground water table continued to decrease up to 73 cm within a week in 2014 DS.
Science
We found that under METS regulation this rate would grow only by up to 10%% and decrease up to 4%%.
On the other side, "Arousal" and "Dominance" decrease, up to 15 and 18 px, respectively, and then they start to increase.
HCl acid was increased from (4 to 5) ml, the conductivity started to decrease, up to 0.86902 × 10−3 S/cm.
The data rate allocated to best effort VNOs may decrease up to 7% of its initial value, which is acceptable, to guarantee other more demanding SLAs.
For light gasoline vehicles, CO and CO2 emissions typically are high at low speeds and decrease up to 60 80 km/h and then increase again [2].
However, the values of both HRS and LRS decrease up to CC of 10 nA and a small filament length remains after RESET.
Science
Above observation can be in conformity with changes in bands intensity, which decrease up to 800 min and then is approximately constant, what indicates the lack of bounded water desorption.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Always use "decrease by up to" instead of "decrease up to". The preposition "by" clarifies that you are referring to the amount of the decrease.
Common error
The phrase "decrease up to" is grammatically incorrect. Always include the preposition "by" to denote the amount of reduction, such as in "decrease by up to 20%".
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
3.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "decrease up to" functions as a modifier indicating the extent to which something is reduced. Despite its frequent usage, as seen in Ludwig, it is grammatically incorrect.
Frequent in
Science
84%
News & Media
8%
Formal & Business
4%
Less common in
Academia
2%
Encyclopedias
1%
Wiki
1%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "decrease up to" is frequently used to express the extent of a reduction, especially in scientific and news contexts, however, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI analysis confirms this, advising the use of "decrease by up to" or similar alternatives to ensure grammatical accuracy. When writing, prioritize clarity and correctness by using prepositions like "by" to specify the extent of the reduction. Common alternatives include phrases like "reduce by up to" and "fall by up to", all of which maintain the intended meaning while adhering to grammatical standards. Pay special attention to replace the phrase in formal and scientific documents, where precision is critical.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
reduce by up to
Changes the verb to 'reduce' and adds 'by' to correct the grammatical structure, clarifying the amount of reduction.
decrease by as much as
Uses 'as much as' instead of 'up to' to emphasize the maximum possible decrease.
fall by up to
Replaces 'decrease' with 'fall', offering a different verb with a similar meaning while keeping the 'up to' modifier.
drop by up to
Substitutes 'decrease' with 'drop', indicating a more sudden or significant reduction.
decline by up to
Offers 'decline' as a substitute for 'decrease', maintaining a formal tone and similar meaning.
lessen by up to
Replaces 'decrease' with 'lessen', which conveys a gradual or progressive reduction.
diminish by up to
Uses 'diminish' instead of 'decrease', suggesting a reduction in size, importance, or intensity.
shrink by up to
Replaces 'decrease' with 'shrink', indicating a reduction in size or amount, often physically.
go down by up to
Uses the phrasal verb 'go down' as a more informal substitute for 'decrease'.
be reduced by up to
Changes from active to passive voice, focusing on the entity being decreased rather than the action of decreasing.
FAQs
How should I correctly use "decrease up to" in a sentence?
The phrase "decrease up to" is grammatically incorrect. Use "decrease by up to" instead. For example, "The price may decrease by up to 50%."
What can I say instead of "decrease up to"?
You can use alternatives like "reduce by up to", "fall by up to", or "decline by up to" depending on the context.
Which is correct, "decrease up to" or "decrease by up to"?
"Decrease by up to" is the correct and grammatically sound phrase. "Decrease up to" is grammatically incorrect. Ensure you include the preposition "by".
What's the difference between "decrease up to" and "reduce by up to"?
"Decrease up to" is grammatically incorrect, while "reduce by up to" is a grammatically correct alternative. The latter clearly indicates the extent of the reduction.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
3.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested