fell substantially

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fell substantially" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant decrease or drop in something, such as numbers, prices, or performance. Example: "The company's profits fell substantially last quarter due to increased competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For that issue, sales fell substantially.

The Guardian

After that, the number of strikes fell substantially.

The New Yorker

Whatever the police did, crime fell substantially just about everywhere.

The New York Times

However, if the flow fell substantially or stopped completely the alarm light went out.

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And in the same decade, white enrollment fell substantially in schools attended by black students.

The New York Times

The record business has seen slumps before: revenues fell substantially in the early eighties.

The New Yorker

Go back a couple of years and the UK contribution fell substantially.

The Guardian - Business

But its market share fell substantially, to 18.7percentt from 20percentt.

The New York Times

Under the last Labour government, homelessness fell substantially, but it was not eradicated.

The Guardian

French industrial production and prices both fell substantially between 1933 and 1936.

Britannica

The number of detainees in the discipline and segregation blocks fell substantially.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fell substantially", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is decreasing. Providing specific figures or percentages can strengthen your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "fell substantially" for minor reductions. The phrase implies a significant and noticeable drop, so ensure the decrease is actually considerable to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fell substantially" functions as a verb phrase, specifically indicating a significant decrease. It is commonly used to describe a notable reduction in quantity, value, or degree. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fell substantially" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote a significant decline. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. It's versatile enough to be used in news, scientific reports, and formal business contexts. While various alternatives like "decreased significantly" or "dropped sharply" exist, the choice depends on the specific context and the desired nuance. Ensure to quantify the decline when possible to strengthen your claim and avoid using it for minor reductions. Ludwig's analysis confirms its frequent usage in reputable sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreased significantly

Replaces "fell" with "decreased" and "substantially" with "significantly", offering a slightly more formal tone.

declined considerably

Substitutes "fell" with "declined" and "substantially" with "considerably", maintaining a similar level of formality.

dropped sharply

Replaces "fell" with "dropped" and "substantially" with "sharply", suggesting a more sudden and rapid decrease.

plummeted dramatically

Uses "plummeted" instead of "fell" and "dramatically" instead of "substantially", implying a steeper and more impactful decline.

slipped significantly

Employs "slipped" in place of "fell", indicating a gradual decline, and "significantly" maintains the emphasis on a notable change.

reduced noticeably

Substitutes "fell" with "reduced" and "substantially" with "noticeably", highlighting that the decline is easily observed.

diminished greatly

Replaces "fell" with "diminished" and "substantially" with "greatly", suggesting a considerable reduction in size or importance.

weakened considerably

Uses "weakened" in place of "fell", indicating a decrease in strength or effectiveness, with "considerably" maintaining the significance of the change.

lessened substantially

Replaces "fell" with "lessened", conveying a reduction in amount or intensity, and "substantially" emphasizes the magnitude of the decrease.

collapsed significantly

Employs "collapsed" in place of "fell", suggesting a sudden and complete failure or decline, and "significantly" emphasizes the substantial nature of the change.

FAQs

How can I use "fell substantially" in a sentence?

You can use "fell substantially" to describe a significant decrease. For instance, "The company's profits "fell substantially" due to increased competition" or "After the new regulations were implemented, pollution levels "fell substantially".

What are some alternatives to "fell substantially"?

Alternatives include "decreased significantly", "declined considerably", "dropped sharply", or "plummeted dramatically", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "fell substantially" or "decreased substantially"?

Both are generally appropriate, but "decreased substantially" might be perceived as slightly more formal. The choice depends on the context and your desired level of formality. In many cases, they are interchangeable.

What's the difference between "fell substantially" and "fell slightly"?

"Fell substantially" indicates a significant and noticeable decrease, while "fell slightly" suggests only a minor or marginal decrease. Using the correct phrase ensures you accurately represent the magnitude of the change.