downgrading the quality of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "downgrading the quality of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a reduction in the standard or excellence of something, such as a product, service, or experience. Example: "The recent changes in the manufacturing process are downgrading the quality of our products, leading to customer complaints."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

One way to avoid being accused of unfairly admitting students and potentially downgrading the quality of the student body is to restructure oversight of the admissions process.

International Journal for Educational Integrity

By downgrading the quality of programs on analog outputs, EFF argues the motion picture industry wants to push viewers to use content-protected digital outputs, despite the impact on millions of Americans.

Forbes

The second common reason for downgrading the quality of evidence was unexplained heterogeneity.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

The poor quality and heterogeneity of the primary studies which might appear in our future analysis are the most common reasons for downgrading the quality of evidence.

BMJ Open

We have presented the reasons for downgrading the quality of evidence in the footnotes of Summary of findings for the main comparison.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

The primary reason for downgrading the quality of evidence was the risk of bias inherent in unblinded studies evaluating the efficacy of an intervention on a self-reported outcome.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

This allows producers in these areas to apply for low-interest loans from the government, and opens up land in the conservation reserve programme for use for grazing and hay production.On July 16th the USDA downgraded the quality of domestic corn, rating 38% as "very poor" or "poor".

The Economist

Facebook does not impose such a limit but downgrades the quality of high-resolution photos.

BBC

In many occasions, users accidentally downgraded the quality of ground truth that was previously automatically pre-annotated.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Recognizing that several trials administered omega-3 in combination with other supplements, we downgraded the quality of evidence across outcomes for indirectness of intervention.

Annals of Intensive Care

For ICU LOS and DMV, we further downgraded the quality of evidence for significant heterogeneity and high overall risk of bias.

Annals of Intensive Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing sensitive topics like product quality or academic standards, use "downgrading the quality of" to clearly convey a decline or reduction. This phrase helps maintain transparency and addresses concerns effectively.

Common error

Avoid using overly technical or obscure terms when discussing quality declines. Using "downgrading the quality of" is direct and understandable, preventing confusion among diverse audiences. Ensure clarity by avoiding jargon that might alienate or confuse readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "downgrading the quality of" functions as a gerund phrase typically used as a noun. It describes the action of diminishing or reducing the standard or excellence of something. Ludwig provides examples where it's used in academic, news, and business contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "downgrading the quality of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used gerund phrase that describes a decline in the standard or excellence of something. As Ludwig confirms, it is applicable across diverse contexts, including science, news, and business, though it tends to appear more frequently in scientific and formal settings. While alternatives such as "devaluing the quality of" or "weakening the quality of" exist, this phrase is a direct and effective way to address concerns about reduced standards.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

devaluing the quality of

Replaces "downgrading" with "devaluing", emphasizing the reduction in worth or importance.

weakening the quality of

Substitutes "downgrading" with "weakening", highlighting the reduction in strength or effectiveness.

decreasing the quality of

Replaces "downgrading" with "decreasing", focusing on the reduction in the standard of something.

worsening the quality of

Substitutes "downgrading" with "worsening", suggesting a decline in condition or state.

degrading the quality of

Replaces "downgrading" with "degrading", implying a reduction to a lower rank or level of quality.

downgrade the quality of

Changes the gerund form to the base verb form, altering the sentence structure slightly.

drop the quality of

Replaces "downgrading" with "drop", making it a more casual way to describe a reduction in quality.

deteriorating the quality of

Replaces "downgrading" with "deteriorating", indicating a gradual decline in quality.

lower the quality of

Substitutes "downgrading" with "lower", focusing on the act of reducing the standard.

reduce the quality of

Replaces "downgrading" with "reduce", indicating a lessening in the degree of excellence.

FAQs

How to use "downgrading the quality of" in a sentence?

You can use "downgrading the quality of" to describe a decline in standards or excellence. For example: "The recent policy changes are "downgrading the quality of" education."

What can I say instead of "downgrading the quality of"?

You can use alternatives like "devaluing the quality of", "weakening the quality of", or "decreasing the quality of" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "downgrading the quality of"?

It's appropriate when discussing a decline or reduction in the standard, excellence, or overall merit of something, such as services, products, or academic standards.

Is "downgrading the quality of" formal or informal language?

"Downgrading the quality of" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, alternatives like "reducing the standard of" or "lowering the quality of" might be preferred.