in order of frequency

USAGE SUMMARY

"in order of frequency" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe something that is organized from most frequent to least frequent. For example, "This graph shows the most common issues people experience with their computers, in order of frequency."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The so-called "semantic count," giving senses in order of frequency, has also been used.

Britannica

The other top words are (in order of frequency) creek, valley, lake, park, river, springs and pine.

The New York Times - Sports

These were the top problems reported by owners in the most recent survey, in order of frequency: Brake noise.

The New York Times

Feet and toes lead the list, followed in order of frequency by body fluids (blood, urine, etc), then body size (slim, stout, short, tall, whatever) and head hair.

The Guardian

About two-thirds of recent churchgoers said they had heard clergy members speak about — in order of frequency — religious liberty, abortion, homosexuality, immigration, environmental issues or economic inequality.

The New York Times

The commonest lesions in order of frequency were VSD (34.3%), HLHS (21.9%) and AVSD (20%).

Pregnancy Hypertension: An International Journal of Women's Cardiovascular Health

If you have other questions not answered within the Community FAQ, do let us know either in the comments below or via email and we'll do our best to address them, in order of frequency of asking.

The Guardian

Early tablets consist of "lists, lists and lists," Scott says, and the subjects of that record-keeping are, in order of frequency, "barley (as rations and taxes), war captives, male and female slaves".

The New Yorker

Index complications in order of frequency included rotator cuff tearing, postoperative glenohumeral instability, and periprosthetic humeral fracture.

Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

Al-Kindi hit upon the method of listing the number of times each letter appears in the scrambled message in order of frequency and matching them with a known list of frequencies of letters in the original language.

The New York Times - Books

In southwestern Puerto Rico (Post 1981), breeding season foraging tactics, in order of frequency (648 observations) were: probing, 45%; gleaning, 39%; flycatching and hovering, 8%; pecking, 5%; and chasing, 2%.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting data or information, use "in order of frequency" to clearly indicate that the items are arranged from the most to least common, enhancing clarity and reader comprehension.

Common error

Avoid using "in order of frequency" when the data isn't actually based on frequency. For example, don't use it if you're actually ordering by importance or some other criterion, or it's just a generic listing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in order of frequency" functions as an adverbial phrase, specifying how something is organized or presented. Ludwig AI confirms that is correct and usable in written English. It modifies a verb or clause to indicate that items are arranged according to their rate of occurrence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in order of frequency" serves to clarify that items are being presented from most common to least common. As Ludwig AI explains, it is correct and usable in written English across a variety of contexts, but is especially prevalent in scientific, news, and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure the data is genuinely ranked by frequency to avoid misleading your audience. Consider more concise alternatives such as "by frequency" when appropriate for your audience and context. While the expression is suitable for formal writing, awareness of more compact alternatives ensures versatile and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by frequency

A shorter way to express the same concept; the nuance is less formal.

ranked by frequency

Emphasizes the act of ranking based on frequency.

most frequent to least frequent

Explicitly states the direction of the ordering.

according to frequency

Indicates that an arrangement follows the order of frequency.

in terms of frequency

Focuses on frequency as the defining characteristic.

by order of occurrence

Substitutes "frequency" with "occurrence" referring to how often something occurs.

arranged by frequency of occurrence

More verbose, specifying arrangement and using "occurrence".

based on frequency

Highlights the foundation of the ranking.

prioritized by frequency

Suggests a system of prioritization where more frequent events have precedence.

commonness sequence

Describes items ordered from most to least common.

FAQs

How can I use "in order of frequency" in a sentence?

You can use "in order of frequency" to specify the arrangement of listed items based on how often they occur. For example, "The survey results are presented "in order of frequency", with the most common response listed first."

What's a more concise alternative to "in order of frequency"?

Alternatives such as "by frequency" or "ranked by frequency" can be used for a more concise phrasing while retaining the meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "in order of frequency" in formal writing?

Yes, "in order of frequency" is suitable for formal writing and reports. It clearly conveys the method of organization, which is important for academic and professional contexts.

How does "in order of frequency" differ from "in order of importance"?

"In order of frequency" arranges items based on how often they occur, while "in order of importance" ranks them based on their significance or impact. Choosing the right phrase depends on the criterion you're using for the ranking.