degraded over time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "degraded over time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has become worse or of lower quality due to the passage of time. For example, "The quality of air in the city has degraded over time due to an increase in industrialization."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

In fact, you can go back to RFID tags and QR codes, but Gaathon says the security of these approaches has degraded over time as hackers figure out how to copy them.

TechCrunch

Some are microbeads, tiny pieces of plastic that are added as exfoliants to health and beauty products, while others come from larger plastic pieces that have degraded over time.

Huffington Post

The fact that this sequence can be degraded over time by human elastases makes ELP polymers biologically degradable.

BioDrugs

Scaffolds degraded over time, but no obvious differences in the rate of degradation were observed in low-molecular-weight constructs compared to high-molecular-weight constructs.

ACS Biomaterial Science and Engineering

Researchers also found that the wire connecting the sensor to the heart degraded over time.

MIT Technology Review

"Safety procedures, however, had degraded over time to the point where this kind of tragedy was almost inevitable.

The New York Times

The infections were not caused by blood that was already tainted at the time it was donated, but were caused because it degraded over time, the researchers said.

The New York Times

The only problem was that TPB seemed to stop working well after a while: For some reason, it degraded over time.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Like natural rubber, SBR is swollen and weakened by hydrocarbon oils and is degraded over time by atmospheric oxygen and ozone.

Britannica

Through a systematic investigation, we discovered that the compound degraded over time under an acidic condition created by the formation of methyl carbonic acid from methanol and CO2.

Journal of Chromatography A

Most of the actuator efficiencies were found not to be degraded over time and kept efficiency greater than the design efficiency.

Nuclear Engineering and Design

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "degraded over time" to describe a gradual decline in quality, performance, or condition. Be specific about what is degrading and the factors contributing to the degradation.

Common error

Avoid using "degraded over time" without clearly specifying what is degrading. For example, instead of saying "The situation has degraded over time", specify "The air quality in the city has degraded over time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "degraded over time" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe a process where something loses quality, effectiveness, or structural integrity gradually. As Ludwig AI pointed out, this phrase is considered grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

39%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "degraded over time" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to describe the gradual decline of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various forms of writing. It's most frequently found in science, news, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly specify what is degrading to avoid ambiguity. Be mindful of the negative connotation, and consider synonyms like "deteriorated with time" or "declined in quality over the years" for nuanced expression. Keep in mind that there are multiple authoritative sources which are using this expression, like The New York Times, TechCrunch and BBC.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Deteriorated with time

Focuses on the process of becoming worse, implying a gradual decline.

Suffered gradual deterioration

Highlights the adverse effects of time on an object or condition.

Declined in quality over the years

Emphasizes the reduction in quality specifically.

Showed a decline over the long term

Focuses on a long-lasting reduction or weakening.

Worsened as time passed

Highlights the negative progression of a condition or state.

Lost integrity as time went on

Focuses on the idea of something losing its original structure, quality or soundness.

Diminished over a period

Suggests a reduction in size, importance, or quality over time.

Eroded with the passage of time

Implies a gradual wearing away or destruction.

Went downhill over the course of time

This alternative indicates that the condition worsened throughout a period.

Regressed over time

Indicates a return to a former or less developed state.

FAQs

How can I use "degraded over time" in a sentence?

Use "degraded over time" to describe the gradual decline of something. For instance, "The performance of the server "degraded over time" due to increased traffic".

What are some synonyms for "degraded over time"?

Alternatives include "deteriorated with time", "declined in quality over the years", or "worsened as time passed". Choose the phrase that best fits the specific context.

Is it always negative when something has "degraded over time"?

Yes, "degraded over time" typically carries a negative connotation, suggesting a decline in quality, function, or condition. If you need to convey a neutral change, consider using "evolved over time" or "changed over time".

What's the difference between "degraded over time" and "deteriorated over time"?

While similar, "degraded over time" often implies a loss of function or quality, while "deteriorated over time" suggests a physical breakdown or decay. Both describe a decline, but the specific nuance varies.