has declined

USAGE SUMMARY

"has declined" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is often used to describe a decrease or reduction in something over a period of time. Example: The number of wild tigers has declined by 97% over the past century due to habitat loss and poaching.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Public support has declined.

Cornell University

American influence has declined.

The Economist

(Djibouti has declined).

The Economist

Lawlessness has declined.

The Economist

Labour has declined gently.

The Economist

CCTV has declined to comment.

The New York Times

Median household income has declined.

The New York Times

Fox has declined to comment.

The New York Times - Arts

Poverty has declined almost everywhere.

The Economist

Cloth making has declined, however.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He has declined all interviews.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has declined", ensure the subject clearly indicates what is experiencing the reduction. For example, "The quality of service has declined significantly."

Common error

Avoid using "has declined" without specifying the period or context. Saying "Sales have declined" is less effective than "Sales have declined by 15% this quarter."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has declined" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. It describes an action (decline) that started in the past and continues to have relevance or impact in the present. Ludwig shows that this phrase is frequently used to indicate a reduction or decrease in something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

6%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has declined" is a versatile and commonly used verb phrase that effectively communicates a decrease or reduction over time. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for various formal and informal contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across reputable sources such as The New York Times, The Economist, and The Guardian. When employing this phrase, ensure the subject of the decline and the timeframe are clear to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has decreased

Simple substitution of 'declined' with a synonym, 'decreased', maintaining the same structure and meaning.

has diminished

Replaces 'declined' with 'diminished', suggesting a gradual reduction in size, importance, or intensity.

has fallen

Uses 'fallen' to indicate a drop from a previous level or standard, a more abrupt sense of reduction.

has dropped

Similar to 'fallen', but may imply a quicker or more sudden decrease.

has reduced

Emphasizes the action of reducing something, rather than the state of declining.

has lessened

Suggests a reduction in intensity or degree.

is in decline

Changes the structure to a present continuous form, focusing on the ongoing process of decline.

is decreasing

Similar to 'is in decline', but with a more neutral connotation.

saw a decrease

Uses a noun phrase to describe the decline, shifting the focus from the verb.

experienced a reduction

More formal phrasing to indicate a decrease.

FAQs

How can I use "has declined" in a sentence?

Use "has declined" to indicate a reduction or decrease over time. For example, "The company's profits "has declined" due to increased competition."

What are some alternatives to "has declined"?

You can use phrases like "has decreased", "has diminished", or "is in decline" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "has declined" or should I use another tense?

"Has declined" is grammatically correct in the present perfect tense. Use it when referring to a decline that started in the past and continues to have relevance in the present. For example, "Public trust "has declined" sharply in recent years."

What's the difference between "has declined" and "declined"?

"Has declined" uses the present perfect tense, indicating an action completed at an unspecified time in the past that has a connection to the present. "Declined" in the simple past tense refers to a completed action in the past with no direct connection to the present. Example: "The birth rate "has declined" recently" vs "The Roman Empire "declined" over centuries."