gradually over time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gradually over time" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase is commonly used to describe a process of change that occurs slowly and in a measured way over a longer period of time. For example, "I gradually became more confident in my writing skills over time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Instead, let the rate rise gradually over time.

The New York Times

"We would do that more gradually over time.

The New York Times - Sports

Excluding tax-related dispositions at vesting date, insiders sell stock gradually over time.

Columbia University

The researchers also found that the instrument's shape evolved gradually over time, by chance.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ongoing environmental disturbances (e.g., climate variation and anthropogenic activities) alter an ecosystem gradually over time.

Landscape and Urban Planning

Meanwhile, compared to glutaraldehyde-fixed tissues, the ADA-fixed tissues could also degrade gradually over time.

Carbohydrate Polymers

The effect "should have been seen gradually over time," he said, not "all of a sudden".

The New York Times

The nervous system was remarkably well preserved, but the muscles deteriorated gradually over time.

The New York Times - Science

But like a muscle, you can strengthen it gradually, over time.

Harvard Business Review

Gradually, over time, more money is borrowed and the percentage owned increases to 100 per cent.

Independent

injection, and then decreased gradually over time.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gradually over time" to emphasize a slow, continuous change. It's especially useful when describing processes or developments that don't happen suddenly.

Common error

While "gradually" already implies a process happening over time, avoid adding other redundant adverbs like "slowly" before "gradually over time". It dilutes the impact and makes the writing less concise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gradually over time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate the manner and duration of an action or change. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

46%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gradually over time" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to describe processes that unfold slowly and continuously. Ludwig's AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various contexts, including science, news, and academia. While versatile, it's important to avoid redundancy and consider semantically similar alternatives like "incrementally over time" or "progressively over time" to fine-tune the intended meaning. In essence, mastering the use of "gradually over time" enhances clarity and precision in describing evolving situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incrementally over time

This alternative emphasizes small, successive increases, highlighting the step-by-step nature of the change.

progressively over time

This alternative suggests a steady advancement or development, indicating a forward-moving trend.

slowly but surely

This alternative conveys a sense of eventual success despite a lack of speed, highlighting reliability and persistence.

in due course

This alternative indicates that something will happen at the appropriate or expected time, without specifying the pace of the change.

bit by bit

This alternative stresses the smallness of the individual changes, implying that the overall transformation is achieved through numerous minor adjustments.

over a period of time

This alternative simply indicates that something happens during a certain duration, without specifying rate of change.

with the passage of time

This alternative highlights the influence of time as the main factor of change.

in the long run

This alternative focuses on the final outcome or result, rather than the process itself.

in the fullness of time

This alternative suggests that something will happen when conditions are perfectly right.

eventually

This alternative indicates a future event or outcome, but doesn't always suggest a smooth or progressive development.

FAQs

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

You can use "gradually over time" to describe a process that unfolds slowly and continuously, such as "The company's market share increased "gradually over time" due to effective marketing strategies."

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

Alternatives include "incrementally over time", "progressively over time", or "slowly but surely", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use "slowly" and "gradually over time" together?

Yes, using "slowly" and "gradually over time" together can be redundant. "Gradually" already implies a slow pace, so adding "slowly" can make the sentence less concise.

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

"Gradually over time" describes a slow, continuous process, while "immediately" indicates something happens at once, without delay. They represent opposite ends of a spectrum of change.