has been decreasing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'has been decreasing' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something has decreased (gone down) over time. For example, "The amount of oil in the ocean over the last decade has been decreasing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That income, though, has been decreasing.

The New York Times - Arts

Because homelessness has been decreasing countywide, shelters are being consolidated.

The New York Times

His memory has been decreasing for some time.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But funding has been decreasing in recent years.

The Washington Post

Moreover, the number of state employees here has been decreasing.

The New York Times

As it happens, spending on welfare has been decreasing as a proportion of GDP for years.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's true that the rate of world population growth has been decreasing.

The New York Times

In the past several years, though, the number of abortions has been decreasing.

The New Yorker

Despite increasing education levels, the public's trust in the scientific community has been decreasing.

The New Yorker

Surveys indicated student and faculty satisfaction with Classes v2 has been decreasing in recent years.

Yale University

At the same time, the age at which people are becoming justices has been decreasing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been decreasing", ensure the context clearly indicates the time frame over which the decrease has occurred. For example, specify 'over the last decade' or 'since 2005' to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using redundant adverbs like 'steadily decreasing continuously'. Choose either 'steadily decreasing' or 'decreasing continuously' to avoid unnecessary repetition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been decreasing" functions as the present perfect continuous tense of the verb 'decrease'. It describes an action that began in the past and is ongoing, emphasizing the continuous nature of the decline. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been decreasing" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression for describing a continuous decline over time. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's suitable for various contexts, from news and media to scientific and academic writing. While generally neutral in register, its formality can be adjusted based on the source. To enhance clarity, it's best practice to specify the timeframe of the decrease and avoid redundant adverbs. Consider alternatives like "has diminished" or "is in decline" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has diminished

Replaces the continuous tense with a perfect tense, focusing on the completed reduction rather than the ongoing process.

has fallen

Uses a simpler verb to indicate a decrease, suitable for situations where the continuous aspect is less important.

is in decline

Shifts the focus to the state of decline rather than the action of decreasing.

has seen a reduction

Nominalizes the verb, making it suitable for formal contexts.

has lessened

Employs a less common verb, offering a slightly more nuanced tone.

is dwindling

Suggests a gradual and continuous reduction, often implying scarcity.

has eroded

Implies a gradual wearing away or disappearance, often used metaphorically.

has tapered off

Suggests a gradual decrease, often from a high point.

has shrunk

Emphasizes a reduction in size or quantity.

is contracting

Highlights a decrease in size or scope, often used in economic contexts.

FAQs

How do I use "has been decreasing" in a sentence?

Use "has been decreasing" to describe a continuous decline over a period of time. For example, "The number of students attending the class "has been decreasing" since the start of the semester."

What's a formal alternative to "has been decreasing"?

In formal writing, you could use phrases like "has diminished", "has undergone a reduction", or "has contracted" instead of "has been decreasing".

Is "has been decreasing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "has been decreasing" is the present perfect continuous tense of the verb 'decrease', and it's grammatically sound. It's used to describe an action that started in the past and continues to the present.

What's the difference between "has decreased" and "has been decreasing"?

"Has decreased" indicates a completed action in the past with present relevance, while "has been decreasing" emphasizes the ongoing nature of the decrease. For instance, "The price "has decreased"" suggests a final price drop, while "The price "has been decreasing"" implies it's still falling.