fallen by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fallen by" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a sense of decline or decrease, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "The number of participants has fallen by 20% this year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

GDP has fallen by half.

The Economist

Violent crime has fallen by half.

The New York Times

Daytrips have fallen by almost half.

The Economist

They have since fallen by two-thirds.

The Economist

Tax receipts have fallen by a fifth.

The Economist

Today, that number has fallen by half.

The Economist

Imports have fallen by a staggering 45%.

The Economist

Net immigration has fallen by a quarter.

The Economist

Three years later, the value had fallen by 40 percent.

The New York Times

Its shares have fallen by 23% this year.

The Economist

Standards have fallen by international standards.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "fallen by" appears frequently, consider using more grammatically standard alternatives like "decreased by" or "dropped by" for clarity and precision, especially in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "fallen by" when you actually intend to express an action that caused the fall. For example, instead of "Standards have fallen by international standards", use "International standards have caused standards to fall."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fallen by" functions as part of a predicate, typically describing the extent of a decrease or decline. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's not considered grammatically correct, but is often used to quantify a reduction in a specific metric. For instance, "GDP has fallen by half."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Despite its frequent appearance in various sources, including major news outlets like The Economist and The New York Times, Ludwig AI identifies "fallen by" as grammatically incorrect. The phrase typically functions to quantify a decrease, and it is best to opt for alternatives such as "decreased by", "dropped by", or "declined by" in formal writing to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. While widely used, choosing a more precise substitute enhances the credibility and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Decreased by

This phrase is a direct and grammatically sound substitute, indicating a reduction in quantity or value.

Dropped by

This alternative provides a slightly more informal tone, suggesting a sudden or noticeable decline.

Diminished by

This option offers a more formal and nuanced way of expressing a reduction, implying a gradual decrease.

Reduced by

Similar to "decreased by", this phrase highlights the act of lessening something.

Declined by

This option is suitable for describing a decrease in a more formal or official context, such as economic reports.

Lessened by

This phrase is appropriate when the decrease is related to intensity or degree rather than quantity.

Plummeted by

This option describes a rapid and significant decline, often used in dramatic situations.

Collapsed by

This alternative indicates a sudden and catastrophic decrease, suggesting a complete failure.

Vanished by

This suggests something has disappeared completely or become irrelevant.

Faded into obscurity

This implies that something has gradually lost prominence or importance and has become forgotten.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "fallen by"?

Alternatives such as "decreased by", "dropped by", or "declined by" are grammatically correct and provide clarity.

How can I use "decreased by" in a sentence?

You can say, "The number of participants decreased by 20% this year" or "Sales have decreased by 15% since last quarter."

When is it appropriate to use "dropped by" instead of "fallen by"?

"Dropped by" is suitable in informal contexts to describe a sudden or noticeable decline, such as "The stock price dropped by 5 points."

What is the difference between "fallen by" and "declined by"?

While both indicate a decrease, "declined by" is often used in more formal or official contexts, particularly when discussing economic or statistical data. Therefore you should prefer the alternative declined by in a more formal context.