had decreased

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had decreased" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something has reduced in amount or level prior to a specific point in time. Example: "By the end of the year, the sales figures had decreased significantly compared to the previous year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In 2012, that had decreased to 69 percent.

The New York Times

Most activity had decreased by 8 December.

The Guardian

This had decreased to 69% in 2006.

The Guardian - Opinion

The level of humanitarian assistance to Somalia had decreased between 2010 and 2011.

The Guardian

Mr. Kessler said tolerance of hunting had decreased since 9/11.

The New York Times

It said earnings per share had decreased from 14 cents to 13 cents.

The New York Times

By 1992-93 it had decreased to 66.2percentt and last season it was 56.3percentt.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Rubin said that the company first noticed traffic from China had decreased sharply late Monday.

The New York Times - Tech

The first question is whether demand for foreign films had decreased.

The New Yorker

California was the only state where the incidence of lung cancer among women had decreased.

The New York Times

By 1900, it was estimated that the Aboriginal population had decreased by 87%.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had decreased", ensure you clearly specify what exactly had decreased and provide context for the decrease (e.g. "Sales had decreased due to the economic downturn").

Common error

Avoid using "had decreased" when the action is still ongoing or the decrease happened in the present. Instead, use "has decreased" or "is decreasing" depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had decreased" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating that a reduction occurred before a specific point in the past. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its correct usage across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

39%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had decreased" is a versatile and grammatically correct verb phrase used to indicate that something reduced in amount or level prior to a specific point in time. With a very common usage frequency, as confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is most often found in news articles and scientific publications, maintaining a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's important to specify what exactly had decreased and provide context for the decrease when using this phrase. Related phrases include "had diminished", "had reduced", and "had declined", offering nuanced alternatives for more precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had diminished

Implies a gradual reduction in size, importance, or intensity. It focuses on the process of becoming smaller or less.

had reduced

Indicates a deliberate action to make something smaller or less in amount, size, or intensity.

had declined

Suggests a gradual and often unwanted decrease, especially in quantity, quality, or importance.

had lessened

Emphasizes a reduction in intensity or degree, often referring to feelings, pain, or pressure.

had fallen

Indicates a sudden or rapid decrease, often from a high level or position.

had shrunk

Implies a decrease in size or volume, often due to external factors or natural processes.

had waned

Suggests a gradual decline in power, influence, or popularity, often over a long period.

had subsided

Indicates a decrease in intensity or activity, often referring to storms, emotions, or swelling.

had eased

Implies a reduction in pressure, tension, or difficulty, often providing relief or comfort.

had abated

Suggests a decrease in force or intensity, often referring to storms, pain, or anger.

FAQs

How do I use "had decreased" in a sentence?

Use "had decreased" to describe a reduction that occurred before a specific point in the past. For example, "By the time the project was completed, the budget "had decreased" significantly".

What can I say instead of "had decreased"?

You can use alternatives like "had diminished", "had reduced", or "had declined" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has decreased" instead of "had decreased"?

The choice between "has decreased" and "had decreased" depends on the time frame you're referring to. "Has decreased" is used for changes up to the present, while "had decreased" is for changes before a specific point in the past. For instance, "The number of employees has decreased this year" versus "The number of employees "had decreased" before the new management took over".

What is the difference between "decreased" and "had decreased"?

"Decreased" is generally used to describe a simple past action, whereas "had decreased" indicates that the decrease happened before another action in the past. For example, "The price decreased last week" versus "The price "had decreased" before the sale started".