increase by a factor of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "increase by a factor of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe an increase by an amount that is proportional to the original amount. For example, "The population increased by a factor of five over the past decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's a budget increase by a factor of 10,000.

The Guardian - Film

Instead of rising eighteenfold over the next 75 years, benefits would likely increase by a factor of eight.

The New York Times

The dynamic force enhancement increase by a factor of 4 in comparison to unreinforced brickwork.

International Journal of Mechanical Sciences

Compared to the conventional process, this is an increase by a factor of 10.

Catalysis Today

However, the luminosity will increase by a factor of two in the coming years.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Additionally, the output power at 20 mA was found to increase by a factor of 2.1.

Superlattices and Microstructures

More transformative still, Mr. Colvin writes, computing power doubles every two years, meaning that it will increase by a factor of a million in just 40 years.

The New York Times

The official said that "fewer than a dozen" officials were under sanctions now and that the number would probably increase "by a factor of five or six".

The New York Times

He said, "The number of beds would have to increase by a factor of three or four to make any impact".

The New Yorker

At this rate, global production and consumption would increase by a factor of 12. Global GDP per capita would reach more than $100,000.

The Guardian

How did Halliburton double its federal contracts and increase, by a factor of 15, the amount of direct or government-guaranteed loans?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "increase by a factor of" to clearly indicate proportional growth. Ensure the numerical factor is accurate and relevant to the context.

Common error

Avoid confusion by clearly stating what the increase is relative to. For example, specify if the increase is compared to the previous year's value or another baseline.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increase by a factor of" functions as a quantitative descriptor, indicating that a value has been multiplied. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used in diverse contexts. Examples in Ludwig illustrate its application in scientific, economic, and general reporting.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Academia

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "increase by a factor of" is a grammatically correct and versatile expression used to indicate proportional growth across various domains. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and broad applicability. It is most frequently found in scientific and news media contexts and is suitable for neutral to formal registers. To use it effectively, ensure clarity regarding the base value and the numerical factor. Common alternatives include "grow by a multiple of" and "rise exponentially by". By avoiding common errors and understanding its precise meaning, writers can leverage "increase by a factor of" to communicate quantitative changes with accuracy and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grow by a multiple of

Replaces "factor" with "multiple", emphasizing the multiplicative relationship.

rise exponentially by

Indicates a rapid increase, adding the concept of exponential growth.

multiply by a coefficient of

Uses the term "coefficient" to specify the multiplicative factor.

expand by a magnitude of

Replaces "factor" with "magnitude", suggesting a significant increase in size or scale.

amplify by a rate of

Emphasizes the proportional change using the word "amplify" and "rate".

scale up by a proportion of

Highlights the scaling aspect of the increase, replacing "factor" with "proportion".

augment by an amount of

Focuses on the increase in amount, using "augment" to indicate growth.

enlarge by a degree of

Uses "enlarge" to suggest an increase in size, with "degree" indicating the extent.

escalate by a scale of

Indicates a rapid or stepwise increase, using "escalate" for emphasis.

increase manyfold

Simplifies the phrase to a single word suggesting a multiplication effect.

FAQs

How do I use "increase by a factor of" in a sentence?

Use "increase by a factor of" to indicate that a quantity has been multiplied by a certain number. For example, "The company's profits "increased by a factor of five" this year".

What's the difference between "increase by a factor of" and "increase by"?

"Increase by a factor of" indicates multiplication, while "increase by" indicates addition. For instance, increasing something by a factor of 2 doubles it, while increasing it by 2 adds 2 to the original value.

What can I say instead of "increase by a factor of"?

You can use alternatives like "grow by a multiple of", "rise exponentially by", or "multiply by a coefficient of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "increase by a factor of less than one"?

Yes, you can use "increase by a factor of less than one" to indicate a decrease. For example, "Due to the new regulations, the pollution levels "increased by a factor of 0.5" (decreased by 50%)."