decreases to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decreases to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a reduction in quantity, value, or intensity that reaches a specific level or point. Example: "As the temperature drops during the night, it decreases to a chilling 10 degrees Celsius."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It decreases to 23 percent".

The New York Times

After that, the fee decreases to $1.25.

The New York Times

However, in high income countries, that percentage decreases to 56%," said the WHO.

The Guardian

In 2007, for example, there were only 12 decreases to 298 increases.

The New York Times

An A.A.A. spokeswoman attributed the decreases to lower demand as a result of conservation by drivers.

The New York Times

Officials also imposed limits on increases and decreases to protect schools from large budget swings this year.

The New York Times

Using this model, said Pota, training costs $200 a teacher until infrastructure is in place, at which point the cost decreases to $150 a teacher.

The Guardian

The city attributed the decreases to various causes: Families chose gifted and talented programs, enrolled their children in private schools or moved away.

The New York Times

In contrast to another comment in the article, I know of no evidence that oxygen in airplane passenger compartments decreases to a level of any clinical significance.

The New York Times - Travel

Stephen Murray, energy expert at Moneysupermarket, said: "It's been three long years since customers last benefited from price decreases to standard energy bills.

The Guardian - Business

Rainfall exceeds 1.5 inches (40 mm) each month in the east but decreases to the west.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "decreases to" when you want to clearly indicate a reduction from one value to another specific value. Ensure the context provides the initial value for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using alternative prepositions such as "from" or "by" after "decreases". The correct structure is "decreases to" followed by the final value.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decreases to" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a reduction in a quantity, value, or intensity until it reaches a specific level. It connects the initial state with the resulting state after the reduction, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decreases to" effectively communicates a reduction to a specific value or level. As indicated by Ludwig, it is grammatically sound and frequently used across diverse contexts, especially in scientific and news-related domains. While alternatives like "drops to" or "falls to" exist, "decreases to" offers a precise and often more formal way to express this concept. When using "decreases to", ensure you're specifying the final value reached after the reduction to avoid ambiguity. By understanding its function and purpose, writers can effectively incorporate "decreases to" to convey reductions with clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

declines to

Replaces "decreases" with the synonym "declines", maintaining the same preposition.

drops to

Uses "drops" for a more informal and immediate sense of reduction.

falls to

Employs "falls" to indicate a reduction, often implying a negative consequence.

reduces to

Substitutes "decreases" with "reduces", focusing on the action of making something smaller.

diminishes to

Replaces "decreases" with "diminishes", suggesting a gradual reduction.

lessens to

Uses "lessens" to imply a reduction in intensity or amount.

descends to

Suggests a downward movement towards a specific level.

plummets to

Indicates a rapid and significant decrease.

sinks to

Similar to plummets to but implies a more prolonged fall.

contracts to

Uses "contracts" to suggest a shrinking or reduction in size or scope.

FAQs

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

Use "decreases to" to show a reduction in something reaching a specific value or level. For example, "After the treatment, the swelling "declines to" a manageable size".

What are some alternatives to "decreases to"?

Alternatives include phrases like "drops to", "falls to", or "reduces to", which all convey a similar meaning of reduction to a specific point.

Is it better to say "decreases to" or "decreases by"?

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

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

While both indicate a reduction, "decreases to" is more general. "Diminishes to" often implies a gradual or less noticeable reduction over time.