decreased to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decreased to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to point out that something has become smaller or less in amount than before. For example, "Company profits decreased to 20% last quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

In 2012, that had decreased to 69 percent.

The New York Times

Last year, the number decreased to 13.

The New York Times

This had decreased to 69% in 2006.

The Guardian - Opinion

Revenue decreased to $394.3 million from $454.2 million.

The New York Times

Its yield decreased to 5.61percentt from 5.65percentt.

The New York Times

That average gradually decreased to 20,221 in 2002.

The New York Times - Sports

The bond's yield decreased to 5.31percentt from 5.36percentt on Thursday.

The New York Times

By 1992-93 it had decreased to 66.2percentt and last season it was 56.3percentt.

The New York Times - Sports

Rates for one-year adjustable mortgages decreased to 3.57percentt, compared with 3.61percentt last week.

The New York Times

That year I did two diet challenges, and decreased to nine stone four.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Last year, the number of homicides decreased to 18 even though the population had nearly doubled.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decreased to", ensure you provide both the initial and final values to clearly illustrate the magnitude of the change. For example, "The temperature decreased to 10 degrees Celsius from 25 degrees Celsius."

Common error

Avoid using "decreased to" when you actually mean an increase. Always double-check that the final value is lower than the initial value to ensure accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decreased to" functions as a verb phrase, specifically indicating a transformation where a quantity or value becomes smaller, reaching a certain level. Ludwig AI validates that the phrase is grammatically correct. Examples illustrate how it's used to quantify a reduction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decreased to" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to denote a reduction in quantity or value, reaching a specified lower level. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely accepted and employed across diverse contexts, notably in scientific reports and news articles. While alternative phrases like "fell to" or "declined to" exist, understanding the specific nuance each conveys is crucial for precise communication. When using "decreased to", provide clear context about the initial and final values to maximize clarity. The frequency analysis shows its prevalence in news and scientific domains, suggesting its widespread application in communicating quantitative changes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fell to

This alternative uses a simpler verb, "fell", which is direct and widely understood.

dropped to

Similar to "fell to", this option emphasizes a sudden or significant reduction.

declined to

This phrase is more formal and suggests a gradual reduction in value or quantity.

reduced to

This indicates an active process of making something smaller or less.

diminished to

Suggests a gradual decline, often implying a loss of importance or impact.

slipped to

Implies a subtle or almost unnoticed decrease.

eased to

Suggests a gentle or gradual reduction.

contracted to

This is frequently used in economic contexts to indicate a reduction in size or volume.

narrowed to

Implies a reduction in width or scope, often used in relation to gaps or differences.

dwindled to

Indicates a gradual and continuous decrease until very little remains.

FAQs

How can I use "decreased to" in a sentence?

Use "decreased to" to indicate a reduction from a previous value to a new, lower value. For example, "After the intervention, the infection rate "decreased to" 5%."

What are some alternatives to saying "decreased to"?

You can use alternatives like "fell to", "dropped to", or "declined to" depending on the context.

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

"Decreased from" indicates the starting point, while "decreased to" indicates the ending point after the reduction. For instance, "The price decreased from $20 to $15."

What is the difference between "decreased to" and "reduced to"?

While similar, "reduced to" often implies an active process or intervention causing the reduction, whereas ""decreased to"" can simply describe the change without specifying a cause.