incrementally

USAGE SUMMARY

'incrementally' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is happening, or has happened, in a gradual, step-by-step manner. Example sentence: We have been working incrementally to improve our customer service.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Instead of being shaken up and set on new foundations, banks were shored up incrementally.

The Guardian - Opinion

Incrementally over two years it will be a cut of 1.6%." Such a cut could well mean job cuts in many schools next year.

The Guardian

I hope that you believe you are acting in good faith; that you are simply motivated by the need to respond to the threats of terrorism and organised crime and the nuisance of anti-social behaviour, but I wonder if you have any idea of the cumulative effect of the 15 or so bills which have incrementally removed or compromised our liberties.

The Guardian - Opinion

(Nay-sayers and meh-sayers call it something knocked off from TV's 7-Up, and wonder if it would have been praised as much if it was just an actor in incrementally increased ageing makeup.

The Guardian - Film

The infamous "graphs of doom", showing how everything else is incrementally going overboard to ensure continued delivery of essential child protection and adult social care, tell the true emerging story.

The Guardian

Prior to the trial, prosecutors will present the defence with evidence incrementally and order additional forensic tests only when the case requires them.

The Guardian

This work was normally conducted by dockers under the national dock labour scheme, which provided employment and income security, and was an element of the wider social democratic legacy of the 1940s that Thatcher and her ministers were incrementally dismantling.

The Guardian

Executive director Monica Pellegrino Faix says: "Our reuse weaves together the past and the present: just as with Buffalo's renewal, we are redeveloping incrementally and sensitively".

The Guardian - Travel

This show grew slowly and incrementally".

The Guardian

In particular, we need to reverse the decline in productivity, improve success rates for regulatory approval and deliver medicines that add more than incrementally to a physician's capabilities.In the past the problem of R&D in big pharmaceutical companies has been "fixed" by spending more and by using scale to "industrialise" the research process.

The Economist

Goal-line dramas notwithstanding, football management is about squeezing out incrementally more performance per salary pound.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "incrementally" with verbs that suggest a building-up process, such as "increase", "improve", or "develop", to enhance the sense of gradual progress.

Common error

Avoid using "incrementally" when you actually mean something happened instantly or without any intermediate steps. "Incrementally" implies a gradual process, not a sudden occurrence.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "incrementally" functions as a modifier of verbs, indicating the manner in which an action is performed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies a gradual or step-by-step approach, as showcased in the example: "banks were shored up incrementally".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

28%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "incrementally" is used to describe a process that happens in small, gradual steps. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and widely used. With a high frequency of occurrence in News & Media and Encyclopedias, "incrementally" is best suited for formal or neutral contexts where precision is valued. Related terms such as "gradually" and "progressively" offer similar meanings, yet "incrementally" specifically emphasizes the step-by-step nature of the action. Therefore, remember to use "incrementally" when you need to convey that an action is taking place in small, measured stages, leading to a gradual but noticeable change.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by small increments

A more explicit restatement of the original meaning.

gradually

A more general term for slow and steady progress.

progressively

Suggests a forward-moving direction alongside the gradual change.

step by step

Emphasizes the individual stages of the process.

bit by bit

Highlights the small size of each increment.

by degrees

Implies a subtle and almost imperceptible change over time.

little by little

Similar to "bit by bit", but can also refer to diminishing of a situation.

in stages

Focuses on the structured and planned nature of the progression.

in a phased manner

Highlights the planned and methodical approach.

slowly but surely

Conveys a sense of steady and reliable progress, even if slow.

FAQs

How can I use "incrementally" in a sentence?

Use "incrementally" to describe a process or change that occurs gradually, in small steps. For example, "The company "incrementally improved" its profits over the quarter".

What are some alternatives to "incrementally"?

You can use alternatives like "gradually", "progressively", or "step by step" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "incrementally" and "immediately"?

"Incrementally" describes a gradual change over time, whereas "immediately" indicates something happens instantly. They are antonyms.

Is it better to change things "incrementally" or all at once?

It depends on the situation. Changing things "incrementally" allows for adjustments and reduces risk, while making changes all at once can be more efficient but also more disruptive.