in increments of

USAGE SUMMARY

"in increments of" is correct and usable in written English.
You use it when referring to a process of increasing or decreasing by a certain amount over time. For example, "We will increase the budget by five percent each year in increments of two percent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In Liverpool, dawn rose in increments of gray.

The New York Times

The exam is scored in increments of 10 points.

The New York Times - Magazine

The bpm can only be changed in increments of 5.

Cornell University

prints the numbers 0.0000 through 0.9000 in increments of 0.1.

Yale University

Bids range from 5 to 30 in increments of 5.

Encyclopedia Britannica

With time shares, investors buy time, usually in increments of a week, in a vacation property.

The New York Times

Mileage is sold in increments of 1,000 miles for $25 plus tax.

The New York Times - Travel

Vouchers can be purchased in any denomination starting from £25 and in increments of £5 thereafter.

The Guardian

The price climbed in increments of three million dollars, then two.

The New Yorker

Instead, Piene and his fellow Zeroists worked in increments of gentleness and reticence.

The Guardian - Arts

At Cevabdzinica Zeljo 1, prepare to order in increments of five (3.5 KM).

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing changes or increases, clearly specify the value of the increment to avoid ambiguity. For example, "Increase the temperature "in increments of" 5 degrees Celsius" is more precise than just saying "increase the temperature gradually".

Common error

Ensure that the increment size is appropriate for the overall scale you're working with. Using small increments for large values can make a process seem unnecessarily slow, while using large increments for small values can lead to overshooting your target.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in increments of" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating the manner in which something increases or decreases. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, supported by numerous examples showcasing its common use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Academia

28%

Science

24%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in increments of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that specifies the manner in which something increases or decreases. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. As the examples show, it's commonly used across various fields, from news and media to academic research, to describe gradual changes. While versatile, precision in specifying the size of increments is key to avoiding ambiguity. The alternatives, such as "by steps of" and "in stages of", offer subtle variations in emphasis. Therefore, using "in increments of" effectively requires careful consideration of context and desired precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by degrees of

Indicates a gradual change or progression.

by steps of

Focuses on the stepwise nature of the change, emphasizing the individual steps.

stepwise by

Emphasizes a gradual increase.

by intervals of

Focuses on the consistent spacing or timing between changes.

in stages of

Emphasizes the phased nature of the process, suggesting a planned progression.

in measures of

Highlights specific amounts in which changes happen

in gradations of

Highlights the subtle and continuous nature of the change.

in portions of

Suggests that something is divided and distributed over time in specific amounts.

in portions of

Signifies the distribution of something in specified amounts.

in allotments of

Implies a controlled and predetermined distribution.

FAQs

How can I use "in increments of" in a sentence?

You can use "in increments of" to describe a gradual increase or decrease. For example, "The interest rate will rise "in increments of" 0.25% each quarter".

What are some alternatives to "in increments of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "by steps of", "in stages of", or "by degrees of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "in increments by" instead of "in increments of"?

While understandable, "in increments by" is less common and can sound awkward. "In increments of" is the more standard and widely accepted phrasing.

What is the difference between "in increments of" and "gradually"?

"In increments of" specifies that the change happens in discrete steps with a defined amount, such as "increasing the volume "in increments of" 2 decibels". "Gradually" simply implies a slow and steady change without specifying amounts.