decreasing order

USAGE SUMMARY

"decreasing order" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to sorting things in a sequence from largest to smallest. For example, "We arranged the numbers in decreasing order from highest to lowest."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The three levels, in increasing order of ability and decreasing order of visibility, is: the amateurs.

The Guardian - Tech

Eigenvalues can be arranged in decreasing order.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The descriptors are presented in decreasing order of variable importance.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Principal components are arranged in decreasing order of variability explained.

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology

Sort the requirements in decreasing order of their priorities.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

We then ranked the contestants in decreasing order.

EPJ Data Science

Sort in decreasing order with being the sorted index.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

However, as we move down the list we find a decreasing order of stringency in commitment.

SEP

Most of the participants self-identified as white, followed in decreasing order by Black, Hispanic, and "other".

Vice

(probe) = JSM0(probe)−JSM5(probe) in decreasing order.

Plosone

In decreasing order, the most relevant features were cereals, milk, and meat.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a list or data set, ensure that it is clearly stated what attribute the items are being ordered by (e.g., "ranked in decreasing order of importance").

Common error

Avoid using "decreasing order" without specifying the attribute or quantity being ordered. For example, instead of saying "the results are in decreasing order", specify "the results are in decreasing order of significance".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decreasing order" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun, specifying the arrangement or sequence in which items are presented. It clarifies the order in which data, values, or other elements are organized, as seen in examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

88%

News & Media

8%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decreasing order" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig, to describe an arrangement from largest to smallest. Predominantly used in scientific and technical contexts, it specifies the sequence in which data or items are presented. For clarity, it's best to specify what attribute is being ordered. Alternatives include "descending order" and "largest to smallest". While versatile, avoiding ambiguity by stating the attribute being ordered improves readability. Ludwig's examples show that it is a common and acceptable phrase across various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

descending order

This alternative uses a synonym for "decreasing", maintaining nearly identical meaning.

largest to smallest

This option directly describes the arrangement process, focusing on the extremes.

highest to lowest

This alternative emphasizes the relative position of the items within a scale.

in reverse sequence

This option focuses on the reversal of a standard or expected sequence.

from maximum to minimum

This alternative employs more technical terminology to describe the range.

in inverse proportion

This phrase indicates a relationship where one quantity reduces as the other increases, but can also be applied to sequences.

sorted from greatest to least

This alternative uses a verb-focused structure and explicitly states the endpoints.

ranked from top to bottom

This phrase suggests a vertical hierarchy, where items are ordered from the peak to the base.

graded downwards

This alternative implies a structured ranking process from better to worse.

progressively smaller

This option underscores the successive reduction in size or value.

FAQs

How do I use "decreasing order" in a sentence?

Use "decreasing order" to describe a sequence or arrangement from largest to smallest. For example, "The data was sorted in "decreasing order" of magnitude".

What is an alternative to "decreasing order"?

You can use phrases such as "descending order", "largest to smallest", or "highest to lowest" as alternatives to "decreasing order".

Is it correct to say 'in decreasing order' or 'by decreasing order'?

The correct phrase is "in decreasing order". The preposition "in" is used to indicate the arrangement or sequence.

What does "decreasing order of significance" mean?

"Decreasing order of significance" means that items are arranged from the most significant to the least significant. For example, features in a model might be ranked in "decreasing order of significance" to highlight the most influential ones.