decreased by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decreased by" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in mathematical or statistical contexts to indicate a reduction in quantity or value. Example: "The company's profits decreased by 15% compared to last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The average decoding time decreased by 41.55%.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Agriculture decreased by 0.7%.

The Guardian - Business

This year, applications decreased by 26 percent.

The New York Times

Most activity had decreased by 8 December.

The Guardian

Its staffing decreased by 14percentt.

The New York Times - Food

Low-value work decreased by 50%.

The Guardian

The average batting average decreased by 0.004.

The New York Times

Diastolic blood pressure decreased by five points.

The Guardian - Opinion

Between 2009 and 2011, the number of police officers nationwide decreased by 56,125, emergency responders decreased by 30,200, and teachers decreased by 220,762.

The New Yorker

The number of white Christians decreased by 17%.

The Guardian

(The population decreased by eight hundred thousand during the seventies).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To maintain variety in your writing, consider using synonyms like "reduced by", "fell by", or "declined by", especially when repeating the phrase in close proximity.

Common error

Avoid using "decreased by" without clearly defining the original or base value. For example, instead of saying "Sales decreased by 10", specify "Sales decreased by 10% from last quarter's total of $100,000".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decreased by" functions as a prepositional phrase quantifying the extent of reduction. It modifies a noun or verb by specifying the amount of decrease. Ludwig examples showcase its use in diverse contexts, from decoding time to agricultural output.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decreased by" is a versatile and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to quantify reductions across numerous contexts. Ludwig's analysis confirms its frequent appearance in news media, scientific publications, and formal business communications. When using the phrase, clarity is key; ensure the baseline and the unit of reduction are clearly stated. For variety and nuance, consider related phrases such as "reduced by" or "declined by". Overall, "decreased by" serves as a reliable tool for precise communication when describing quantifiable reductions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced by

This alternative is a direct synonym, emphasizing the action of lessening something.

dropped by

This alternative is a simple and direct way to indicate a reduction in quantity or value.

fell by

This alternative is more concise and commonly used in statistical or financial contexts.

declined by

This alternative is similar to "fell by" but can also suggest a more gradual or continuous decrease.

diminished by

This alternative suggests a gradual reduction, often implying a loss of importance or impact.

shrunk by

This alternative suggests a reduction in size or extent, often implying a physical change.

lessened by

This alternative emphasizes the effect of making something less significant or intense.

contracted by

This alternative is typically used when discussing economic or physical reductions in size or scope.

plummeted by

This alternative indicates a rapid and significant decrease, suggesting a sudden drop.

subtracted by

This alternative refers to the result of mathematical subtraction.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "decreased by"?

You can use alternatives like "reduced by", "fell by", "declined by", or "diminished by" depending on the specific context.

How do I use "decreased by" in a sentence?

The phrase "decreased by" is used to show a reduction in quantity or value. For example: "The number of applicants "decreased by" 26 percent this year."

Is it correct to say "decreased from" instead of "decreased by"?

While "decreased from" can be used to indicate a change from a previous value, ""decreased by"" specifically quantifies the amount of the reduction. For instance, "The price "decreased by" $5" is more precise than "The price decreased from $20."

What's the difference between "decreased by" and "decreased to"?

"Decreased by" indicates the amount of reduction, while "decreased to" indicates the final value after the reduction. For example, "The price "decreased by" $10" means it was reduced by that amount, whereas "the price decreased to $10" indicates the final price is $10.