exacerbate this trend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exacerbate this trend" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing factors or actions that worsen or intensify a particular trend or situation. Example: "The recent policy changes may exacerbate this trend of declining enrollment in schools."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

New technology will exacerbate this trend.

The Guardian - Opinion

The gangbo will likely exacerbate this trend.

The Guardian - Opinion

The risk is that focusing only on further devolution to the nations and English regions, will exacerbate this trend.

The Guardian

Laura Durso Honolulu David Frum correctly acknowledges that income inequality in the United States has been growing steadily and that the use of genetic technology by the affluent to enhance the "intelligence, health, beauty and strength" of their offspring would exacerbate this trend.

The New York Times

The institutional setting of REDD in the Convention on Climate Change may further exacerbate this trend, as neither conservation nor socioeconomic concerns like the rights and well-being of indigenous peoples and local communities are addressed.

Ecological Economics

American health is on a downward trend and by cutting crucial food funding for the poor, especially pregnant women and new mothers, we will only exacerbate this trend.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Tax policy has exacerbated this trend instead of mitigating it.

The Economist

On Friday, the Labor Department's monthly unemployment report, which showed that the nation's job losses in May were much lower than anticipated, exacerbated this trend.

The New York Times

David Batty, an ex-director of Sotheby's, estimates that there are now only one-fifth as many lots at auction in their London showrooms as there were 30 years ago.The auction houses have exacerbated this trend by cutting the number of sales in order to concentrate increasingly on the top end of the market.

The Economist

Many of the recent conflicts around the world have exacerbated this trend and the demands on weapon guidance systems and sensor development have risen considerably.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

"February saw a hiatus on the high street, with online sales soaring while in-store sales stalled," said David McCorquodale, head of retail at KPMG. "There's no doubt inclement weather exacerbated this trend, but it certainly underscores the importance of having a sophisticated online operation".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Maintain a formal tone when using the phrase, as it is often found in academic, news, and professional contexts. Avoid using it in casual conversation or informal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "exacerbate this trend" when the situation is not a gradual development but a sudden event. "Exacerbate" implies a pre-existing trend that is being intensified, not a new problem that is emerging.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "exacerbate this trend" is as a verb phrase, where "exacerbate" is the verb, "this" is a determiner, and "trend" is a noun. This phrase typically functions as the predicate of a sentence, indicating that something is making a pre-existing trend worse. Ludwig's examples show the phrase used to describe the negative impact of new technologies, policies, or events on various trends.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exacerbate this trend" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to describe the act of worsening or intensifying an existing trend. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English, particularly within news, scientific, and formal contexts. While alternatives like "worsen this tendency" or "intensify this pattern" exist, the specific choice depends on the desired nuance. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the trend and maintain a formal tone. Be cautious not to use it for sudden events, as "exacerbate" implies a gradual worsening. Ludwig's analysis reveals that this phrase is commonly found in authoritative sources such as The Guardian and The New York Times, underlining its credibility and relevance in contemporary discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

worsen this tendency

Replaces "trend" with "tendency" and "exacerbate" with "worsen", indicating a negative impact but with slightly different connotations.

intensify this pattern

Substitutes "exacerbate" with "intensify" and "trend" with "pattern", highlighting the increase in strength or degree of the observed pattern.

aggravate this development

Replaces "exacerbate" with "aggravate" and "trend" with "development", suggesting that something makes a situation or condition worse.

fuel this inclination

Changes "exacerbate" to "fuel" and "trend" to "inclination", implying that something adds to or encourages an already existing tendency.

compound this problem

Uses "compound" instead of "exacerbate" and "problem" instead of "trend", which suggests the addition of something that worsens or complicates the existing issue.

amplify this tendency

Replaces "exacerbate" with "amplify" and "trend" with "tendency", focusing on increasing the effect or intensity of a particular trend.

heighten this inclination

Substitutes "exacerbate" with "heighten" and "trend" with "inclination", which suggests elevating or intensifying a pre-existing inclination.

escalate this issue

Changes "exacerbate" to "escalate" and "trend" to "issue", indicating an increase in the intensity or seriousness of an existing problem.

magnify this effect

Uses "magnify" instead of "exacerbate" and "effect" instead of "trend", focusing on making the impact or consequences of something more noticeable or significant.

worsen this situation

Replaces "trend" with "situation" while maintaining the core meaning of something becoming worse.

FAQs

How can I use "exacerbate this trend" in a sentence?

Use "exacerbate this trend" to describe how a particular action or event is worsening an already existing pattern or tendency. For example, "Cutting funding for education will exacerbate this trend of declining test scores."

What are some alternatives to "exacerbate this trend"?

You can use alternatives like "worsen this tendency", "intensify this pattern", or "aggravate this development" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "exacerbate this trend" or "reverse this trend"?

"Exacerbate this trend" implies making the trend worse, while "reverse this trend" suggests stopping or changing the direction of the trend. The choice depends on whether you want to describe something worsening the trend or improving it.

What's the difference between "exacerbate this trend" and "contribute to this trend"?

"Exacerbate this trend" suggests that something is making an existing trend worse. "Contribute to this trend" simply means that something is adding to or influencing the trend, without necessarily implying that it's making it worse. The first carries a more negative connotation.