fourfold

USAGE SUMMARY

'fourfold' is an accepted word in written English.
You can use it to describe an increase or decrease of something by four times. For example: "The profits for the quarter grew fourfold from the previous year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But I'm not so despondent that I can't see any hope for future elections, especially when I look at the fourfold increase in support the Greens have achieved in just four years.

The Guardian - Opinion

The built environment in Mumbai had increased fourfold since 1925 – and at its fastest rate over the past 30 years – all at the cost of green cover and wetlands.

The Guardian

The number of 16- to 24-year-olds claiming unemployment benefit for more than 12 months has increased fourfold since before the recession, according to the Independent.

The Guardian

But a clever collaboration with Tmall helped his farmers reach customers even in smaller Chinese cities, boosting sales over fourfold in the past year to over 600 tonnes.While it is possible to make it, Mr Yao is blunt about the chances: "If your firm doesn't have at least $100m a year in sales, don't bother trying".

The Economist

As it is, the ratio remains one of the lowest in the world, despite a fourfold explosion in trade in the last decade.

The Economist

He pointed out that the German exchange, which followed TCI's advice and undertook a share buyback, had seen its share price increase fourfold over the same period.Anyway, charity may be good for business.

The Economist

By the end of 2004 there were 55m union members in non-state-owned enterprises, 35% more than a year earlier and a more than fourfold increase compared with the late 1990s.

The Economist

Members of the local arts lobby claim the annual £20m subsidy they receive delivers a fourfold return for local businesses.

The Economist

The budget has increased more than fourfold since 2008.If it fails to win outright, the CNRT will reluctantly consider a coalition.

The Economist

Enrolments on its "professional-development" courses have risen fourfold.

The Economist

Rwanda's population would rise fourfold, to 42m, giving it a density five times that of Japan.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fourfold" to clearly and concisely indicate a multiplication or increase by a factor of four. It's particularly effective in technical, business, or journalistic contexts where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "fourfold" loosely to mean 'a lot' or 'significantly'. It specifically means multiplied by four. Using it inaccurately dilutes the impact and can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fourfold" is to act as an adjective or adverb, modifying a noun or verb to indicate a quantity or degree that is four times as large or as much. Ludwig AI confirms that "fourfold" is an accepted word.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fourfold" is a versatile term that concisely expresses a multiplication by four. It functions as both an adjective and an adverb, primarily in contexts like news, business, and science. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and acceptability. While "fourfold" enjoys common usage, particularly in formal writing, it is important to use it accurately to maintain clarity. Alternatives like "quadrupled" can be used for variety. By using "fourfold" with precision, writers can effectively convey significant quantitative changes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quadrupled

Uses a verb form to indicate the act of multiplying by four, differing in grammatical structure.

increased by a factor of four

More explicit and descriptive, highlighting the multiplication factor.

multiplied by four

Directly states the mathematical operation.

four times greater

Emphasizes the comparative increase in magnitude.

increased four times

A simpler way to express the multiplication, though slightly less formal.

a quadruple increase

Uses a noun to describe the increase, altering the sentence structure.

four times the size

Focuses on the resulting size after the multiplication.

increased to four times its original amount

Provides more detail about the initial state before the increase.

enhanced by a factor of four

Implies improvement alongside the numerical increase.

having four times as many

Describes a state of possession after the increase, changing the focus.

FAQs

How is "fourfold" typically used in a sentence?

"Fourfold" can act as an adjective (a fourfold increase) or an adverb (increased fourfold) to describe something that has been multiplied by four. For example, "The company's profits increased "fourfold" this year".

What are some synonyms for "fourfold"?

Alternatives to "fourfold" include "quadrupled", "increased by a factor of four", or "four times greater", depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to use "fourfold" or "quadruple"?

Both "fourfold" and "quadruple" can indicate a multiplication by four. "Fourfold" can function as an adjective or adverb, while "quadruple" is more often used as a verb or adjective. The choice often depends on sentence structure and desired emphasis.

Can "fourfold" be used to describe a decrease?

"Fourfold" primarily describes an increase or multiplication. To describe a decrease, you might say something was reduced to a quarter of its original value, or decreased by 75%.