degrade the quality of

USAGE SUMMARY

"degrade the quality of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express the idea of making something worse in quality, e.g. "The lack of proper maintenance has degraded the quality of the air in the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Interference could degrade the quality of those multimedia Web streams.

MIT Technology Review

Motion blur due to camera motion can significantly degrade the quality of an image.

Columbia University

Unfiltered may sound more natural, but it can degrade the quality of an oil.

The New York Times

"The whole GPS infrastructure is built with a mechanism where they can degrade the quality of location measurements.

MIT Technology Review

Dr. David H. Johnson, president-elect of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which represents cancer specialists, said the administration's proposals would "degrade the quality of cancer care".

The New York Times

Well, maybe this is what it will take to get them to sit up and take notice: climate change is starting to degrade the quality of beer.

The Guardian

Operators could block access or degrade the quality of their data services, but that would antagonise subscribers.

The Economist

Sure, some fans want to see pointless brawls, but the NHL shouldn't degrade the quality of its product just to appeal to the basket of deplorables demo.

The Guardian - Sport

But it is actually a threat that could kill many more people and degrade the quality of civilised life much more".

The Guardian

"This will degrade the quality of life of French workers," said one message on the mayor's public consultation Web site.

The New York Times

But removing high-achieving students from public schools would inevitably degrade the quality of education for the majority of students.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "degrade the quality of", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the reduction in quality. For example, "Poor storage conditions can degrade the quality of the product."

Common error

Avoid using "degrade the quality of" with overly abstract nouns where a more specific verb might be appropriate. Instead of "degrade the quality of life", consider "worsen living conditions" or "reduce well-being".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "degrade the quality of" functions as a verb phrase that expresses the action of diminishing or worsening the standard or excellence of something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

41%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "degrade the quality of" is a versatile and frequently used expression to describe the reduction in the standard or excellence of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable. The analysis reveals it's commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for various settings. While "degrade the quality of" is a solid choice, alternatives such as "diminish the quality of" or "impair the quality of" can offer subtle differences in meaning. When using "degrade the quality of", ensure the context clearly defines the cause of the degradation and avoid overuse with overly abstract nouns for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

diminish the quality of

Focuses on lessening the quality, implying a gradual reduction.

impair the quality of

Suggests a weakening or damage to the quality.

lower the quality of

A more direct and simple way to express a reduction in quality.

reduce the quality of

Indicates a decrease in the level or standard of quality.

worsen the quality of

Implies making the quality poorer or less satisfactory.

compromise the quality of

Suggests that the quality is being put at risk or diminished due to certain factors.

corrupt the quality of

Implies a spoiling or contamination of the quality, making it impure.

taint the quality of

Suggests that the quality has been negatively affected by something undesirable.

spoil the quality of

Indicates that the quality has been ruined or adversely affected.

debase the quality of

Implies a reduction in the intrinsic value or purity of the quality.

FAQs

How can I use "degrade the quality of" in a sentence?

You can use "degrade the quality of" to describe how something reduces the standard or excellence of something else. For example, "Pollution can degrade the quality of the air" or "Excessive use of fertilizers can "harm the soil" and "degrade the quality of" crops."

What are some alternatives to "degrade the quality of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "diminish the quality of", "impair the quality of", or "lower the quality of". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "degrade the quality of" or "improve the quality of"?

The choice depends on the context. "Degrade the quality of" means to make something worse, while "improve the quality of" means to make something better. Use the phrase that accurately reflects the change you're describing.

What causes something to "degrade the quality of" something else?

Many factors can cause something to "degrade the quality of" something else, depending on the context. Examples include pollution degrading air quality, poor maintenance degrading equipment performance, and improper storage degrading food products.