has decreased

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'has decreased' is correct and usable in written English.
It is the perfect tense of the verb 'decrease', which refers to a decrease in amount, size or number. For example: "The population of tigers in the wild has decreased dramatically over the past decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Instead, his power has decreased.

The New York Times - Sports

That class mobility has decreased.

The New York Times - Arts

The pot has decreased significantly".

The New York Times

"The fear has decreased," he said.

The New York Times

This has decreased from value of $1.15m.

The Guardian

Even racism against Brazilians has decreased enormously".

The New York Times

Still, the car theft rate has decreased.

The New York Times

But even James has decreased in popularity.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Police spokesmen say crime has decreased significantly.

The New York Times

In addition, hockey's exposure has decreased in recent years.

The New York Times - Sports

And unions say that the number of strikes has decreased.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has decreased", ensure you specify what is decreasing and, if relevant, by how much or over what period. For example: "The unemployment rate has decreased by 2% since last year."

Common error

Avoid assuming a direct cause-and-effect relationship solely based on the fact that something "has decreased". For instance, stating "Profits have decreased, therefore marketing is failing" without sufficient evidence is a logical fallacy. Always consider other contributing factors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has decreased" functions as a verb phrase indicating a completed action with present relevance. Ludwig shows that it's used to describe a reduction in quantity, quality, or intensity. The auxiliary verb 'has' combines with the past participle 'decreased' to form the present perfect tense.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has decreased" is a versatile and commonly used expression that indicates a reduction or decline. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used across diverse contexts, including news, science, and business. Analysis of usage patterns reveals its prevalence in reporting trends and analyzing changes. While semantically similar phrases like "has fallen" or "has declined" exist, understanding the subtle nuances between them allows for precise communication. Remember to avoid causal fallacies and specify what exactly "has decreased" for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has diminished

Synonymous; replaces "decreased" with a similar verb indicating a reduction in size, extent, or importance.

has fallen

Uses a different verb to convey a reduction, often implying a drop from a higher level.

has declined

Replaces "decreased" with "declined", suggesting a gradual reduction in quantity or quality.

has lessened

Substitutes "decreased" with "lessened", emphasizing a reduction in intensity or degree.

has reduced

A direct synonym, "reduced" implies a deliberate or measured decrease.

has shrunk

Suggests a reduction in size or scope, often implying a physical contraction.

has eased

Implies a reduction in pressure, tension, or burden, rather than a numerical decrease.

saw a decrease

Changes the structure to use a noun form of the verb, "decrease", making the sentence slightly more formal.

experienced a reduction

Similar to "saw a decrease" but uses "reduction", emphasizing the act of reducing.

has tapered off

Implies a gradual reduction, often used for trends or activities.

FAQs

How to use "has decreased" in a sentence?

Use "has decreased" to indicate that something has become smaller, fewer, or less over time. For example: "The number of students attending the lecture "has decreased" since the beginning of the semester."

What can I say instead of "has decreased"?

You can use alternatives like "has fallen", "has declined", or "has diminished" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "has decreased" or "decreased"?

"Has decreased" is the present perfect tense, indicating a past action with relevance to the present. "Decreased" (simple past) refers to a completed action in the past. For example: "The price "decreased" yesterday," versus "The price "has decreased" recently."

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

"Has decreased" indicates a completed reduction, while "is decreasing" indicates a reduction that is currently in progress. For example, "The temperature "has decreased" significantly today" vs "The temperature "is decreasing" rapidly."