fourfold increase

USAGE SUMMARY

'fourfold increase' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe an increase that is four times what it previously was. For example, "The study found that the tax rate had seen a fourfold increase in the past year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

That's almost a fourfold increase in four years.

The Guardian

The move triggered a fourfold increase in ambulance call-outs.

The Guardian

That amounts to a fourfold increase in a decade.

The Economist

There has also been a fourfold increase in coeliac diagnosis between 1990 and 2011.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

My corner, too, just lost a long-established dry cleaner, to a fourfold increase in rent.

The New York Times

The following year saw a further fourfold increase and American deaths reached 500.

The Guardian

The United States has had a fourfold increase in wireless calling volumes per person since 1995.

The New York Times - Tech

In that sector, green construction has had the most growth, with a fourfold increase in jobs since 2005.

The New York Times - Tech

The court modified 80 applications in 2015, a more than fourfold increase from the 19 modifications made in 2014.

The Guardian

That is a more than fourfold increase over the 54 cases in the same six months last year.

The Guardian

Citizens Advice reports a fourfold increase over two years in the number of people with payday-loan-related problems.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fourfold increase", ensure you clearly state what is being increased and the timeframe over which the increase occurs to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a "fourfold increase" simply means adding four units. It signifies multiplying the original value by four. For example, if the initial value is 5, a fourfold increase results in 20, not 9.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fourfold increase" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as the object of a verb or following a preposition to describe a substantial proportional change. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fourfold increase" is a common and correct way to describe something that has grown to four times its original size or amount, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts, with authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times providing numerous examples. When using "fourfold increase", ensure clarity by specifying what is being increased and over what period. Remember that a "fourfold increase" means the original value is multiplied by four, resulting in a value four times greater than before.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quadrupling

This term is a more concise way of saying "making something four times bigger or more".

increase by a factor of four

This alternative explicitly states the multiplicative factor of the increase.

four times greater

This emphasizes the comparative size after the increase.

growth by 300 percent

This expresses the increase as a percentage, equivalent to four times the original value.

a rise to four times the original amount

This alternative focuses on the final quantity after the increase.

multiplication by four

This emphasizes the mathematical operation involved.

escalation by a factor of four

This suggests a rapid or dramatic increase.

a surge to four times its former level

This implies a sudden and significant increase.

increase to 400 percent

Expresses the final value as a percentage of the original.

expansion to four times the previous size

Focuses on the resulting magnitude after the change.

FAQs

How can I use "fourfold increase" in a sentence?

You can use "fourfold increase" to describe something that has become four times its original size or amount. For example, "The company experienced a "fourfold increase" in profits this year."

What phrases are similar to "fourfold increase"?

Alternatives to "fourfold increase" include "quadrupling", an "increase by a factor of four", or stating something is "four times greater".

Is it correct to say "a fourfold increase" or "an fourfold increase"?

The correct usage is "a fourfold increase" because "fourfold" begins with a consonant sound.

Does "fourfold increase" mean the same as "four times increase"?

While related, "fourfold increase" is more idiomatic and implies a multiplication by four. "Four times increase" is less common and could be interpreted as adding four times the original amount, leading to ambiguity. It's better to use "fourfold increase" for clarity.