have decreased

USAGE SUMMARY

"have decreased" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to describe a decrease that has already happened. For example, "Sales of the product have decreased drastically in the past year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Instead they have decreased.

The New York Times

Drunken brawls have decreased.

The New York Times

Recently these isotopes have decreased significantly.

The Economist

Even the sizes of salmon have decreased.

The Guardian

Those winds have decreased, the paper finds.

The Washington Post

Since then the numbers have decreased dramatically.

The Guardian

His field-goal attempts and free-throw attempts have decreased.

The New York Times - Sports

Since retirement, with her medications regulated, her seizures have decreased.

The New York Times

"But with each contract, our benefits have decreased".

The New York Times

Murder and robbery were said last year to have decreased.

The Guardian - Opinion

Job openings for executives in Asia have decreased.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have decreased", ensure the subject and verb agree in number. For example, "The number of students has decreased" (singular) versus "Student enrollments have decreased" (plural).

Common error

Avoid using "have decreased" when referring to a future decrease. Use "will decrease" or "are expected to decrease" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have decreased" functions as a present perfect verb phrase, indicating an action (decreasing) that started in the past and has relevance to the present. Ludwig AI confirms this usage. Examples in Ludwig show it describing changes over time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

22%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have decreased" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate a reduction or decline that has occurred over time. Ludwig AI confirms its wide applicability. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts. When writing, it's essential to ensure subject-verb agreement and avoid using it to describe future decreases. Consider alternatives like "have declined" or "have fallen" for nuanced meaning. Pay attention to the tense when describing decreasing events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have diminished

Focuses on a gradual reduction or lessening.

have declined

Implies a downward trend or deterioration.

have fallen

Suggests a drop or reduction in quantity or level.

have lessened

Emphasizes the reduction in intensity or severity.

have receded

Implies a withdrawal or backing away from a previous level.

have shrunk

Focuses on a reduction in size or volume.

have dwindled

Suggests a gradual and continuous reduction to a small amount.

have slumped

Implies a sudden and significant drop.

have deteriorated

Focuses on a decline in quality or condition.

have eroded

Suggests a gradual wearing away or reduction over time.

FAQs

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

Use "have decreased" to describe something that has lessened or diminished over time. For example, "The number of available jobs "have decreased" significantly this year".

What are some alternatives to "have decreased"?

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

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

It depends on the subject. Use "has decreased" with singular nouns or uncountable nouns (e.g., "The price has decreased"). Use "have decreased" with plural nouns (e.g., "Prices have decreased").

What's the difference between "have decreased" and "are decreasing"?

"Have decreased" indicates a completed action, while "are decreasing" ("are decreasing") suggests an ongoing process. For example, "Sales have decreased" means sales are already lower, whereas "Sales are decreasing" means they are currently in the process of declining.