drop by one

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drop by one" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate a decrease or reduction of one unit, often in numerical or quantitative situations. Example: "To adjust the settings, you need to drop the volume by one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

I drop by one evening and find the carer randomly opening pill boxes looking for instructions.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Last month the group issued a profits warning, and saw the value of its shares drop by one third.

The Guardian - Business

Drop by one of the rental locations of Adventures by the Sea, including at Cannery Row and Alvarado Plaza downtown.

The New York Times - Travel

Anyone who questions the ecumenical nature of holiday alienation should drop by one of the 12-step program meetings that are standing room only through New Year's Eve.

The New York Times

Put a horse's head in his bed and unemployment will drop by one.

TechCrunch

According to this assessment, the exposure would drop by one or two orders of magnitude upon reaching adulthood because of the low frequency of hand-to-mouth transfer [15, 47].

Environmental Sciences Europe

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The production of Kenyan maize, the country's staple, is likely to drop by one-third, hitting poor farmers' families hardest.

The Economist

By now, three classes later, Berkeley has seen its enrollment of graduate students from abroad drop by one-third.

The New York Times

Investment banking income is also expected to drop by one-third from a year earlier, as corporations get cold feet about acquisitions as well as stock and debt offerings.

The New York Times

If, however, a broker offers a mortgage to a borrower at a specific interest rate and interest rates in general then drop by one-eighth of a percentage point while the application is pending, the broker now has a decision to make: does he pass along the reduction to the customer and still get paid only one point from the lender, or does he allow the loan to go through at the higher rate?

The New York Times

If you subtract the merger costs, TMP's nine-month EPS and cash flow drop by one-third, says William Blair & Co. analyst Matthew Litfin.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "drop by one" to indicate a reduction, ensure the context clearly specifies what is being reduced (e.g., number of users, percentage points).

Common error

Avoid using "drop by one" in situations where the decrease isn't a simple unit reduction. For example, don't use it to describe complex changes or shifts in quality, only quantity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drop by one" functions as a verb phrase, indicating either a reduction in quantity or a brief, casual visit. Ludwig examples show it in both contexts, confirming its versatility.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "drop by one" is a versatile verb phrase that can indicate a reduction in quantity or a brief, casual visit. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. While it is more common in News & Media and Science, it maintains a neutral register. When clarity is crucial, especially in formal settings, consider using more precise alternatives such as "decrease by one" or "visit briefly". The expert rating is high due to grammatical correctness and consistent usage across authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decrease by one

Replaces "drop" with "decrease", focusing on the reduction aspect.

reduce by one

Similar to "decrease by one", emphasizes the act of lessening.

fall by one

Uses "fall" instead of "drop", maintaining the sense of reduction.

lessen by one

Substitutes "drop" with "lessen", highlighting the diminishing quantity.

decline by one

Emphasizes a downward trend or decrease in value or quantity.

visit briefly

Focuses on the 'drop by' aspect as a short visit.

stop by briefly

Similar to "visit briefly", suggesting a short, casual call.

come for a quick visit

Explains 'drop by' as a short visit.

make a short call

Alternative way to describe a casual visit.

look in briefly

This implies a short and informal visit or check-in.

FAQs

How can I use "drop by one" in a sentence?

You can use "drop by one" to indicate a reduction or a short visit, as in "The price "decreased by one" dollar" or "I'll "stop by briefly" tomorrow" depending on the context.

What does "drop by one" mean?

The phrase "drop by one" has two main meanings. It can mean to decrease something by a single unit or to make a short, casual visit. The meaning is usually clear from the context.

What can I say instead of "drop by one" (decrease)?

For the meaning of decreasing by one, you can use alternatives like "decrease by one", "reduce by one", or "fall by one".

What can I say instead of "drop by one" (visit)?

If you mean 'visit', alternatives include "visit briefly", ""stop by briefly"", or "come for a quick visit".