fractionally decreased

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fractionally decreased" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to describe a small or partial reduction in quantity, size, or value. Example: "The company's profits have fractionally decreased this quarter compared to the last."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Platt was fractionally onside and Gascoigne fractionally off.

The Guardian - Sport

And they pedal fractionally faster.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Cadillac is actually fractionally shorter than the sedan.

The New York Times

Illinois's error rate was fractionally lower (66%) than average.

The Economist

A fractionally lower price gets the business.

Harvard Business Review

As a result unemployment rose only fractionally.

The Guardian - Opinion

De Gaulle is angry, because Giscard seems fractionally disloyal.

The New Yorker

"Our settlements make up for the losses fractionally".

The New York Times

Nor do the fractionally bigger names disappoint.

The Guardian - Music

The midfielder's drive went fractionally high.

The Guardian - Sport

The intensity slips fractionally at the end.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fractionally decreased", ensure the context reflects a genuinely small and often barely noticeable reduction. Avoid using it for substantial decreases as it can mislead the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "fractionally decreased" when the reduction is significant. This phrase is best reserved for describing very minor changes, and using it otherwise can diminish the credibility of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fractionally decreased" functions as an adverb-verb construction, where "fractionally" modifies the verb "decreased" to indicate the degree of reduction. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this combination is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fractionally decreased" is a grammatically correct adverb-verb construction used to describe a small reduction. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and while no specific examples are available in the current dataset, the phrase is best suited for contexts where precision is important, such as business, academic, or neutral reporting. Remember to use this phrase when you want to emphasize the minimal nature of a decrease and avoid it when describing significant reductions. Alternatives such as "slightly diminished" or "marginally reduced" can be used to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly diminished

Replaces "decreased" with "diminished", implying a reduction in size, extent, or quality.

marginally reduced

Substitutes "fractionally" with "marginally", suggesting a minimal degree of decrease.

minimally lessened

Emphasizes the small scale of the decrease by using "minimally" and "lessened".

incredibly lowered

Replaces "fractionally" with "incredibly" which express the small amount of reduction.

barely declined

Uses "barely" and "declined" to highlight the slightness of the reduction.

incrementally dropped

Emphasizes the gradual nature of the decrease.

a bit attenuated

Employs a more technical term, "attenuated", to describe a slight reduction in force or intensity.

scarcely diminished

Uses "scarcely" to emphasize how insignificant the reduction is.

insignificantly decreased

Explicitly states that the decrease is not significant.

hardly reduced

Uses "hardly" to indicate a very small degree of reduction.

FAQs

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

Use "fractionally decreased" to describe a very slight reduction. For example: "The company's profits have "fractionally decreased" this quarter compared to last quarter."

What are some alternatives to "fractionally decreased"?

Alternatives include "slightly diminished", "marginally reduced", or "minimally lessened". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "fractionally decreased" instead of "significantly decreased"?

"Fractionally decreased" should be used only when the reduction is very small, almost negligible. If the reduction is substantial, use phrases like "significantly decreased", "considerably reduced", or "substantially declined".

Is "fractionally decreased" formal or informal?

"Fractionally decreased" is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase suitable for business, academic, and news contexts. It's not typically used in casual conversation.