fell by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fell by" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a decrease or decline in something. Here is an example sentence: "Sales for the company fell by 20% last quarter due to a decrease in consumer spending."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ecuador's fell by 47%.

The Economist

Seoul fell by 6.3%.

The Economist

Prices fell by half.

The New Yorker

Manila fell by 6.6%.

The Economist

Rates there fell by 11.2%.

The Economist

Goldman Sachs's fell by 36%.

The Economist

Wall Street fell by 7.2%.

The Economist

But output fell by 7%.

The Economist

Robberies fell by a third.

The Economist

Athens also fell by 6.3%.

The Economist

Revenues fell by only 15%.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fell by" to clearly and concisely describe a quantifiable decrease. Ensure that the subject experiencing the decrease is clearly identified.

Common error

Avoid using "fell by" when describing minor fluctuations that might be better described as "slightly decreased" or "remained relatively stable". Using "fell by" implies a more significant reduction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fell by" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating a quantifiable decrease. Ludwig AI examples confirm its usage in describing declines in numerical values, such as percentages or amounts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fell by" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a quantifiable decrease, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly used in news and media, it serves the purpose of reporting declines in numerical values. While alternatives like "decreased by" and "declined by" exist, "fell by" maintains a neutral register and provides a clear, concise way to convey this information. When using "fell by", ensure the scale of decrease is significant enough to warrant its use and that the subject experiencing the decrease is clearly identified.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreased by

Replaces "fell" with "decreased", maintaining the same structure and meaning.

declined by

Substitutes "fell" with "declined", offering a slightly more formal tone.

dropped by

Uses "dropped" as a synonym for "fell", suggesting a more sudden decrease.

reduced by

Employs "reduced" to indicate a lessening in quantity or amount.

diminished by

Replaces "fell" with "diminished", implying a gradual decrease.

slipped by

Uses "slipped" to suggest a small or subtle decrease.

contracted by

Implies a reduction in size or scope, often used in economic contexts.

lessened by

Substitutes "fell" with "lessened", indicating a decrease in intensity or degree.

plummeted by

Replaces "fell" with "plummeted", suggesting a steep and rapid decline.

shrank by

Uses "shrank" to indicate a decrease in size or amount.

FAQs

How do I use "fell by" in a sentence?

Use "fell by" to indicate a quantifiable decrease. For example, "The company's profits "fell by" 15% last quarter".

What can I say instead of "fell by"?

You can use alternatives like "decreased by", "declined by", or "dropped by" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "fell down by" instead of "fell by"?

While "fell down" can indicate a physical fall, using ""fell by"" is more appropriate when referring to a numerical or quantifiable decrease. "Fell down by" is generally redundant.

What's the difference between "fell by" and "reduced by"?

"Fell by" often implies a natural or market-driven decrease, while "reduced by" suggests an intentional action to decrease something. However, in many contexts, they are interchangeable.