decreasing by half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decreasing by half" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a reduction in quantity, size, or value to 50% of its original amount. Example: "The company's profits have been decreasing by half each quarter, raising concerns among investors."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Total output declined by nearly one-third, with output in the mining, metallurgy, and engineering industries decreasing by half.

Encyclopedia Britannica

ΔKth* increases linearly with temperature, while Kmax,th*, exhibits a transition between 80 and 100°C, decreasing by half as a function of temperature.

International Journal of Fatigue

Experiments over the freely-available NPDI dataset show that ACORDE significantly outperforms the previous state-of-the-art approaches for this task, decreasing by half the number of false positives and by a third the number of false negatives.

Neurocomputing

These predict positive charging rates of 50+e/s (elementary charges per second) for solar minimum conditions, decreasing by half at solar maximum, and current fluctuations of up to 30+e/s/Hz1/2.

Astroparticle Physics

However, they found the opposite to be true for Streptococcus mutans, with PTS activity decreasing by half when exposed to a pH of 5.0.

BMC Systems Biology

He reviewed evidence that β-cell volume on autopsy studies is inversely proportional to fasting glucose, decreasing by half at the stage of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), with further progression in individuals with type 2 diabetes (21).

Diabetes Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Decreased PENK increases anti-PCD-gene transcription [ 51] and PENK protein was decreased by half, and its nuclear distribution decreased by 70%, suggest decreased PCD possibly mediated by Meq (see below).

BMC Systems Biology

After two decades in which the number of independent booksellers decreased by half, those bookstores are now coming back.

The New Yorker

Environmental organizations expressed alarm about this during the 1990's, after scientists reported that the number of birds crossing the Gulf of Mexico had decreased by half in two decades.

The New York Times

By contrast, if you look at the large population of 10,000,000,000 Caesium-137 atoms, you see the activity decrease by half over 30 years as the random effects are smoothed out".

The Guardian

Cumali Bora, a seller of handmade soaps who says he even supplies former British prime minister David Cameron with his wares, told Turkish reporters that business has decreased by half this season.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decreasing by half", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being reduced. For example, specify "sales decreasing by half" rather than just "decreasing by half".

Common error

A common mistake is not clearly defining the initial value from which the reduction is calculated. Always establish the starting point to avoid misinterpretations. For instance, say "the budget, initially at $1 million, is decreasing by half", rather than "the budget is decreasing by half" without context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decreasing by half" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a proportional reduction. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English. The phrase modifies a noun, describing the extent to which it diminishes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

39%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decreasing by half" is a grammatically correct and usable verbal phrase that signifies a reduction to 50% of an original amount. Ludwig AI's analysis shows that it functions to convey a quantitative change and appears in neutral registers, including science, news and media, and formal business contexts. While alternative phrases like "reducing by half" or "halving" can be used, it's important to maintain clarity regarding the base value being reduced.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Reducing by half

Uses 'reducing' instead of 'decreasing', which is a synonym with a slightly more active connotation.

Declining by half

Replaces 'decreasing' with 'declining', offering a subtle shift in tone towards a more negative trend.

Falling by half

Substitutes 'decreasing' with 'falling', suggesting a more rapid or dramatic reduction.

Halving

Uses a single verb to express the reduction, making it more concise.

Cut in half

Emphasizes the action of cutting something into two equal parts, metaphorically applied to a quantity.

Diminished by 50%

Replaces "by half" with a more precise percentage, removing ambiguity.

Reduced to 50%

Focuses on the final percentage after the reduction, rather than the process.

Experience a 50% reduction

Formalizes the expression by using a noun phrase instead of a verb.

Scaled down by 50%

Emphasizes that reduction occurs through scaling down an object.

Undergo a 50% decrease

Uses the term 'undergo', emphasizing the passivity of the subject experiencing the reduction.

FAQs

What does "decreasing by half" mean?

The phrase "decreasing by half" means that something is being reduced to 50% of its original value or quantity. Essentially, it's being cut in half.

What are some alternatives to "decreasing by half"?

You can use alternatives like "reducing by half", "declining by half", or "halving" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "decreasing by half" or "decreasing by 50%"?

Both "decreasing by half" and "decreasing by 50%" are correct. "Decreasing by half" is generally considered more informal, while "decreasing by 50%" is more precise and suitable for formal or technical contexts.

How can I use "decreasing by half" in a sentence?

You can use "decreasing by half" in a sentence like this: "Due to the new policy, the number of applications is declining by half this year."