increased by a factor of two

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "increased by a factor of two" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where a quantity has doubled in size or amount. Example: "The population of the city increased by a factor of two over the last decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

For a typical geometry, intensity may be increased by a factor of two or more.

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

The wear resistance against a diamond ball was correspondingly increased by a factor of two.

Surface and Coatings Technology

The permeability of the sample increased by a factor of two mostly due to the dissolution of rock cements during brine injection.

Applied Geochemistry

At those optimal temperatures the 'shelf life' can be increased by a factor of two to three and thus the chance of food spoilage can be significantly reduced.

Resources, Conservation and Recycling

Compared to uncoated CNTs, the field emission was increased by a factor of two, while the thermionic emission increased by more than four orders of magnitude.

Carbon

In practice, a targeted minimum or ideal brace stiffness is typically defined, and then this value is increased by a factor of two or three in order to ensure brace strength demands can be satisfied efficiently.

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Nationally, shale-gas production has increased by a factor of twelve in the past ten years.

The New Yorker

When the last weight is removed, the volume has increased by a factor of four.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Since the president took office, wind energy production has tripled and solar energy has increased by a factor of ten.

The New York Times

Between the turn of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first, they wrote, annual waste production increased by a factor of ten.

The New Yorker

The only land usage that has increased – by a factor of four since 1984 – is of "uncropped agricultural land" or, more prosaically, farmland that isn't being farmed.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase when you want to emphasize the proportional change rather than just stating the new value. It highlights the scaling effect.

Common error

Avoid using "increased by a factor of two" when you simply mean an addition of two units. This phrase indicates multiplication, not addition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increased by a factor of two" functions as a quantitative descriptor, specifying that a value has been multiplied by two. It modifies a noun, indicating the extent of the increase. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is both correct and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

20%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "increased by a factor of two" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that a quantity has doubled. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's prevalent in scientific, academic, and news contexts, used to convey a precise doubling or multiplication by two. While alternatives like "doubled" or "multiplied by two" exist, this phrase emphasizes the proportional change. When using it, ensure the initial value is clear to avoid ambiguity. Remember, this phrase indicates multiplication, not simple addition. This comprehensive analysis, combined with real-world examples, ensures a clear understanding of how to use this phrase effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

doubled

Implies multiplication by two, offering a more concise alternative.

multiplied by two

Directly states the mathematical operation performed.

increased twofold

Uses an adverbial form to indicate the doubling.

grew by 100 percent

Expresses the increase as a percentage.

scaled up by a factor of two

Uses "scaled up" to emphasize proportional increase.

saw a two-times increase

Rephrases as a noun phrase emphasizing the increase.

experienced a doubling

Nominalizes the verb to emphasize the event of doubling.

increased in magnitude by a factor of two

Adds specificity by mentioning "magnitude".

showed a 2x increase

Uses shorthand notation for a compact expression.

was twice as high

Simple and direct way to express the quantity doubled

FAQs

What does "increased by a factor of two" mean?

It means that a quantity has doubled; its new value is twice its original value.

How can I use "increased by a factor of two" in a sentence?

For example, "The company's profits "increased by a factor of two" this year compared to last year."

What are some alternatives to saying "increased by a factor of two"?

You could say "doubled", "multiplied by two", or "increased twofold".

Is it more accurate to say "increased by a factor of two" or "increased by two"?

"Increased by a factor of two" implies multiplication, while "increased by two" means adding 2 to the original value. The correct choice depends on the context.