decreases by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decreases by" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a reduction in quantity or value, often in mathematical or statistical contexts. Example: "The temperature decreases by five degrees overnight."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dissolved Oxygen decreases by around 10%.

Nature

Snow cover in the northern hemisphere spring decreases by 7%.

The Guardian

As a result, the exposure decreases by 2 stops.

Stanford University

This average decreases by a factor of two every week.

University of California, Berkeley

After that the town's share decreases by 10 percentage points a year.

The New York Times

The rates continue to increase and the service decreases by the day.

The New York Times

Simulation BC20 assumes the loading of BC is doubled while OC decreases by 10%.

Nature

However, cooling capacity of cabinet side only decreases by 0.95%.

Energy Procedia

If the house's value decreases by $120,000, Rex and the homeowner share the loss equally, $60,000 each.

The New York Times

After a customer's sixth month in the contract, Sprint's current $200 penalty decreases by $10 each month.

The New York Times - Tech

In year two, the option's estimated fair value decreases by $1 per option ($100 for the package).

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decreases by", ensure that you specify the unit of measurement or the context of the decrease to provide clarity. For example, "The temperature decreases by 5 degrees Celsius."

Common error

Avoid using "decreases by" without specifying what is decreasing and by how much. For instance, instead of saying "Sales decreases by a lot", specify "Sales decreases by 20% in the third quarter".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decreases by" functions as a verb phrase indicating a reduction in quantity or value. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically sound construction used to express a quantifiable decline. Examples show its use across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

39%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decreases by" is a grammatically correct and very common way to express a quantifiable reduction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used across various fields including science, news, and academia. It is best practice to always specify the units and context to maintain clarity and precision. Common errors include omitting these details, which can lead to ambiguity. Alternatives include phrases like "reduces by", "declines by", and "drops by". When choosing among these alternatives, consider the specific nuance you wish to convey. For instance, "drops by" may suggest a more abrupt reduction compared to "declines by". Overall, "decreases by" is a versatile and effective phrase for expressing reduction when used with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduces by

Uses "reduces" instead of "decreases", maintaining the same proportional reduction.

declines by

Substitutes "decreases" with "declines", indicating a gradual reduction.

drops by

Replaces "decreases" with "drops", suggesting a more abrupt reduction.

falls by

Uses "falls" instead of "decreases", indicating a downward movement in quantity or value.

diminishes by

Employs "diminishes" to convey a lessening or reduction in amount.

lessens by

Replaces "decreases" with "lessens", emphasizing a reduction in intensity or degree.

is reduced by

Changes the structure to passive voice, focusing on what is being reduced rather than the action of decreasing.

is lowered by

Uses "lowered" to indicate that something is being actively reduced.

contracts by

Suggests a reduction in size or scope, using "contracts" to indicate shrinking.

is diminished by

Passive form emphasizing that something is being made smaller or less.

FAQs

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

Use "decreases by" to indicate a reduction in a quantifiable amount. For instance, "The price of gas "decreases by" 10 cents per gallon" shows a specific reduction.

What are some alternatives to "decreases by"?

Alternatives include "reduces by", "declines by", or "drops by", depending on the nuance you want to convey. Each suggests a slightly different manner of reduction.

Is it better to use "decreases by" or "is reduced by"?

The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the action or the object being acted upon. "Decreases by" is active, while "is reduced by" is passive. For example, "Demand "decreases by" 15%" versus "Demand "is reduced by" 15%".

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

"Decreases by" indicates the amount of reduction (e.g., "The cost "decreases by" $5"), while "decreases to" indicates the final amount after the reduction (e.g., "The cost "decreases to" $10").