gradually increases over time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gradually increases over time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a process or phenomenon that develops or grows slowly and steadily throughout a period. Example: "The temperature gradually increases over time as summer approaches."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The attainment gap between children from deprived families and those from more affluent homes begins to open up before a child is two and gradually increases over time.

The Guardian

It shows the composition of different components on the surfaces of the clots; the curves indicate that, for wild-type clots, the number of fibrin/fibrinogen gradually increases over time.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

This can be explained if the T-DNA is integrated in the Tuber genome, so that following duplication of a transformed nucleus the amount of produced/accumulated GFP gradually increases over time.

AMB Express

A. As Daniel Goleman recently pointed out, "the good news is that we can grow our willpower; like a muscle, the more we use it, the more it gradually increases over time.

Huffington Post

Another interesting result is the time profile of the average ADA affinity, which gradually increases over time.

CPT: Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology

Therefore, early embryos mostly recycle their nucleotides through the salvage pathways, whereas the de novo dNTP production gradually increases over time.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Most countries in Western Europe now have nationally established HIV/AIDS case reporting systems (Italy reported national-level data for the first time in 2012 and Spain report aggregate regional-level data, for which coverage has been gradually increasing over time).

Current HIV/AIDS Reports

Moreover, Mtm1−/y diaphragm weight was gradually increased over time.

Nature

Attachment-related avoidance, however, started low but gradually increased over time.

Journal of Research in Personality

The level of Form 3 in this standard was observed to gradually increase over time, the effect not being immediately apparent due to method variability.

Analytica Chimica Acta

(d) Heat map of individual CpGs after 1 hour (h) BrdU pulse with varying lengths of chase time (displayed beneath each sample) which shows that methylation levels gradually increase over time.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gradually increases over time", ensure the context clearly establishes the 'time' element, whether it's days, months, years, or a specific process duration.

Common error

Avoid using "gradually increases over time" when the increase is not steady or consistent; instead, specify irregularities like plateaus or sudden jumps within the overall trend.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gradually increases over time" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used as part of a larger sentence to describe how something changes over a duration. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

63%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gradually increases over time" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for describing processes that exhibit a slow and steady growth. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English. The phrase sees common usage across various contexts, particularly in science, news, and formal business settings. While several alternatives exist, such as ""slowly grows over time"" and ""steadily rises over time"", the specific choice should reflect the nuances of the intended meaning. A key writing tip is to ensure the temporal context is clear. Be mindful of avoiding assumptions of linearity when the increase involves irregularities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slowly grows over time

Emphasizes the slowness of the growth.

progressively escalates over time

Highlights the escalating nature of the increase.

steadily rises over time

Focuses on the consistent and unwavering nature of the increase.

incrementally builds up over time

Suggests a building or accumulation process.

develops gradually over the period

Specifies that the development is happening during a period of time.

expands slowly across time

Highlights the expansion aspect of the increase, suggesting something becoming larger.

accumulates gradually over the years

Focuses on an accumulation, particularly over years.

grows steadily in the course of time

Adds a sense of reliability to the increase.

escalates progressively throughout time

Emphasizes the progressive nature of escalation.

ramps up incrementally as time passes

Suggests a gradual 'ramping up', or increase in intensity, as time goes on.

FAQs

How can I use "gradually increases over time" in a sentence?

You can use "gradually increases over time" to describe processes or phenomena that grow or develop slowly and steadily. For example: "The temperature "gradually increases over time" as summer approaches."

What are some alternatives to saying "gradually increases over time"?

Alternatives include "slowly grows over time", "steadily rises over time", or "progressively escalates over time". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "gradually increases over a period of time"?

While not strictly redundant, "over a period of time" can often be omitted because "gradually" already implies that the increase occurs over time. You could rephrase to "gradually increases" if the time frame is already clear.

What's the difference between "gradually increases over time" and "increases exponentially over time"?

"Gradually increases over time" implies a slow, steady increase, whereas "increases exponentially over time" indicates a rate of increase that becomes faster and faster as time passes. Exponential growth is much more rapid.