decreases steadily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decreases steadily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a consistent and gradual reduction in quantity or intensity over time. Example: "The temperature decreases steadily as the sun sets, leading to a cooler evening."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On the other hand, the coefficient B decreases steadily with increasing Tx-Rx separation whereas D increases.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06694.012 As reported in previous work (Gomez-Marin et al., 2011), we found that the stimulus intensity decreases steadily for several seconds prior to a turn (data not shown).

eLife

The peak output of the heart decreases steadily from the age of thirty.

The New Yorker

As the nebula expands, the star increases its brightness and temperature, but its radius decreases steadily.

Encyclopedia Britannica

When the ball is thrown vertically from the ground, its speed and thus its kinetic energy decreases steadily until it comes to rest momentarily at its highest point.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The geographic distribution of modern-day animals indicates, with few exceptions, that faunal diversity decreases steadily in both hemispheres as one approaches the poles.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As for bond coat surface, increasing coating thickness, the normal stress decreases steadily and the maximum shear stress rises in a decreasing rate.

Surface and Coatings Technology

With increasing test temperature, the strength decreases steadily to ∼350 MPa at 600°C; a brittle-to-ductile transition is recognized in the 300 400°C regime.

Acta Materialia

Diversity decreases steadily the further a population has migrated from the African homeland, since each group that moved onward carried away only some of the diversity of its parent population.

The New York Times - Science

We show that the thermal conductivity of composite nc Ge/a SiO2 systems decreases steadily with increasing the volume fraction of Ge inclusions, indicative of enhanced interface scattering of phonons imposed by embedded Ge nanocrystals.

Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures

Above these temperatures the elastic modulus and compressive strength decreases steadily in both the Vesuvian and Etnean rocks, reaching 10% of the original values at 900°C and 800°C, respectively, when partial melting occurred.

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decreases steadily", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is decreasing and over what period of time. For instance, specify "the temperature decreases steadily overnight" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "steadily" implies a rapid decrease. It denotes a consistent rate of decline, not necessarily a fast one. A slow, consistent decline is still described well by the phrase "decreases steadily".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decreases steadily" functions as a verb phrase, typically part of a predicate, describing how a subject changes over time. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use, which indicates that it's commonly understood in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

76%

News & Media

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decreases steadily" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that describes a gradual and consistent decline. Ludwig AI affirms its validity and provides various examples across different contexts. This phrase is most commonly found in scientific and news-related publications, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using "decreases steadily", it's important to ensure clarity about what is decreasing and over what period, while avoiding the assumption that "steadily" implies a rapid decrease. Alternative phrases such as ""declines gradually"" or ""diminishes progressively"" can be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

declines gradually

Emphasizes the gradual nature of the decrease, similar to "steadily".

diminishes progressively

Highlights the step-by-step nature of the reduction.

reduces incrementally

Focuses on the small, additive decreases over time.

falls consistently

Highlights the continuous and reliable nature of the decline.

lessens continuously

Emphasizes the uninterrupted nature of the decrease.

tapers off

Suggests a gradual decrease towards an end or a lower level.

winds down

Implies a progressive reduction in activity or intensity.

ebbs away

Suggests a flowing decrease, similar to the receding tide.

drops incrementally

Focuses on the measured, step-by-step reduction.

contracts gradually

Implies a shrinking or reduction in size over time.

FAQs

How can I use "decreases steadily" in a sentence?

You can use "decreases steadily" to describe a gradual and consistent reduction in something over time. For example, "The company's profits "decline gradually" after the new regulations were implemented".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "decreases steadily"?

Alternatives include "declines gradually", "diminishes progressively", or "reduces incrementally", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "decrease steadily" instead of "decreases steadily"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "decreases steadily" with singular subjects (e.g., "the temperature") and "decrease steadily" with plural subjects (e.g., "the temperatures").

What's the difference between "decreases steadily" and "drops sharply"?

"Decreases steadily" implies a gradual and consistent decline, while "drops sharply" indicates a sudden and rapid decrease. The choice depends on the nature of the change you are describing.