had plummeted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had plummeted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant and rapid decrease in something, often in a past context. Example: "The stock prices had plummeted after the announcement of the company's financial losses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Morale had plummeted.

The Guardian

His stocks had plummeted.

The Guardian

They had plummeted".

The New Yorker

Workers said their spirits had plummeted.

The New York Times

The church's membership had plummeted.

The Washington Post

The 49ers had plummeted to 2-12.

The New York Times

In Ireland they had plummeted 8.1%.

The Guardian

Polls showed that fans' trust of professional baseball had plummeted.

The New York Times - Sports

Opinion polls suggested that the company's public image had plummeted.

The Economist

Then, after generally chilly reviews, attendance had plummeted.

The New Yorker

By 1983, production had plummeted to 42.9 million units.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had plummeted" to describe a steep and sudden decline in quantifiable metrics such as prices, scores, or ratings. Avoid using it for gradual or minor reductions.

Common error

While "had plummeted" is widely understood, it may sound overly dramatic in casual conversations. Consider using simpler alternatives like "dropped" or "decreased" when speaking informally.

Linguistic Context

Had plummeted functions as a verb phrase indicating a completed action of rapid and significant decline. Ludwig examples show its use in describing decreases in values, numbers, or abstract concepts. It requires an auxiliary verb ("had") to indicate past perfect tense, which implies the action was completed before a certain point in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had plummeted" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to describe a steep and sudden decline. According to Ludwig, it is primarily used in news and media contexts, and is suitable for formal and informal settings alike, though simpler alternatives might be favored in casual conversations. When writing, be mindful of the dramatic impact of the phrase and use it to depict significant and quick reductions. Pay attention to the most common errors and use more informal alternatives for informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had sharply decreased

Replaces "plummeted" with a more general term for decreasing, emphasizing the degree of change with "sharply".

had fallen drastically

Substitutes "plummeted" with "fallen" to indicate a downward movement, intensified by "drastically".

had dropped significantly

Uses "dropped" as a less intense synonym for "plummeted", modified by "significantly".

had declined rapidly

Employs "declined" as an alternative to "plummeted", highlighting the speed of the decrease with "rapidly".

had sunk considerably

Replaces "plummeted" with "sunk", implying a downward movement, and uses "considerably" to indicate a substantial amount.

had diminished substantially

Uses "diminished" to indicate a reduction, emphasized by "substantially".

had collapsed suddenly

Substitutes "plummeted" with "collapsed", conveying a sense of sudden and complete failure.

had deteriorated markedly

Employs "deteriorated" to suggest a decline in quality or condition, emphasized by "markedly".

had weakened substantially

Replaces "plummeted" with "weakened", indicating a loss of strength or effectiveness, modified by "substantially".

had degraded severely

Uses "degraded" to imply a decline in quality or status, emphasized by "severely".

FAQs

What does "had plummeted" mean?

The phrase "had plummeted" means to have fallen or dropped suddenly and steeply. It suggests a rapid and significant decline, often in numerical values or abstract concepts such as morale or popularity.

How can I use "had plummeted" in a sentence?

You can use "had plummeted" to describe a rapid decrease. For example: "The company's stock price "had plummeted" after the scandal was revealed."

What can I say instead of "had plummeted"?

You can use alternatives like "had dropped sharply", "had fallen drastically", or "had declined rapidly" depending on the context.

Is "had plummeted" formal or informal?

"Had plummeted" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it leans towards a slightly more formal tone due to its descriptive nature. In very casual conversation, simpler words like "dropped" might be preferred.