exponential

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exponential" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to mathematics, growth rates, or describing something that increases rapidly. Example: "The company's profits have seen exponential growth over the last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When a big barrier to the exponential growth of the industry emerges, he argued, an exponentially increasing amount of engineering effort tends to be applied to solve it.

The Economist

He particularly enjoys the cool breeze of the ocean and access to water for cleaning, though he's disgruntled with the exponential increase of kodi (rent) when moving from old and shabby to new and expensive.

The Guardian

One obvious option, besides just doing nothing and allowing health care costs to continue their exponential growth while more people lose coverage, is a single-payer health insurance plan.

The Guardian

She said: "We were all very pleased to see the cases drop so rapidly; we would almost talk about an exponential drop.

The Guardian

By the end of 2004, several thousand users had signed on, the kind of core base of dedicated filesharing peers that could support exponential growth.

The Guardian - Books

"The upside is so massive and the exponential reach so great that we can change who the audience is," said Whyman.

The Guardian

Overwhelmed by the logistical duties of managing such a large pool, Tommy has attempted to curtail its exponential growth by raising the entry fee – from $20 to $30 to $40.

The Guardian - Sport

And its sensational, exponential popularity growth on the web is already achieving one of its stated objectives: to make Kony famous, to publicise this psychopathic warlord's grotesque crimes – kidnapping thousands of children and turning them into mercenaries, butchers and rapists.

The Guardian

While the majority will stay small, the ones that do grow can have an exponential impact on job-creation, which means steadier incomes and better access to critical goods and services for their communities.

The Guardian

A little later Thomas Malthus saw its innate scarcity as ensuring eventual catastrophe in the face of exponential population growth.Instead of succumbing to catastrophe Western countries found ways to work around land's scarcity, some of them ingenious skyscrapers, artificial fertiliser, railways, suburbs and some nefarious dispossessing the oppressed and colonised.

The Economist

To its fans, it demonstrates that many years of exponential growth lie ahead.This report will concentrate on new ventures with a consumer or commercial angle, leaving aside the well-established business of providing IT services to banks.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a trend as "exponential", ensure that the context supports this claim mathematically or statistically. "Exponential" growth implies a specific type of accelerating growth, not just any rapid increase.

Common error

Avoid using "exponential" simply to mean "very fast". "Exponential" growth has a precise mathematical meaning. A linear increase, even a fast one, is not exponential.

Linguistic Context

The word "exponential" primarily functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe a rate of change or growth that is characterized by a constantly increasing rate. As Ludwig AI suggests, its correct usage depends on the context and the growth pattern it describes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "exponential" is frequently used to describe growth or change that increases at a constantly accelerating rate. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct, and its usage spans across various contexts, with primary presence in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific domains. While often used to mean “very rapid”, it’s crucial to remember that "exponential" has a specific mathematical meaning. To ensure accuracy, verify the context supports the claim mathematically or statistically. Using alternatives like "rapid increase" or "accelerated growth" may be more appropriate in certain situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rapid increase

Focuses on the speed of the growth rather than the mathematical property.

accelerated growth

Emphasizes the increasing rate of growth over time.

geometric progression

Highlights the mathematical sequence where each term increases by a common ratio.

mushrooming growth

Conveys a sense of sudden and widespread increase, like the rapid growth of mushrooms.

prodigious expansion

Suggests a large-scale and impressive increase.

explosive surge

Implies a sudden and dramatic increase, often with a sense of force.

runaway growth

Indicates growth that is out of control and potentially problematic.

skyrocketing increase

Emphasizes the extreme upward trajectory of the growth.

escalating rapidly

Focuses on the quickly increasing nature of something.

swift amplification

Stresses the speed and magnitude of the growth or increase.

FAQs

How is the word "exponential" typically used in a sentence?

The word "exponential" is often used to describe growth or change that increases at a constantly growing rate. For example: "The company experienced "exponential growth" in its user base."

What are some alternatives to using the word "exponential"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "rapid increase", "accelerated growth", or "geometric progression".

Is it correct to use "exponential" to describe any rapid increase?

While "exponential" is often used informally to mean "very rapid", it technically refers to a specific type of growth where the rate of increase is proportional to the current value. Therefore, it's more accurate to use alternatives like "rapid" or "swift" for general rapid increases.

What is the difference between "exponential" growth and linear growth?

"Exponential" growth involves a rate of increase that is proportional to the current value, resulting in accelerating growth over time. Linear growth, on the other hand, increases by a constant amount over each time interval. In linear growth, the growth is constant and not accelerating like in "exponential growth".