is declines

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is declines" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It cannot be used in written English as it stands, as it combines an auxiliary verb "is" with a verb "declines" in a way that does not form a coherent structure. Example: "The number of participants is declines" should be corrected to "The number of participants is declining."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I think people are more and more trying to get away from extinction being the problem; the problem is declines in population, to the point that the animal might as well be extinct".

Vice

As demonstrated in the classic work of Thomas McKeown, The Modern Rise of Population, the only plausible explanation is declines in mortality.

Global health, science and practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Business confidence is declining.

The New York Times

59th Street is declining.

The New Yorker

But this is declining.

The Economist

Now it is declining.

The Economist

Street hockey is declining, too.

The Economist

Open political opposition is declining.

The Economist

Entertaining at home is declining.

The New Yorker

Productivity is declining.

The New York Times

Al-Qaida is declining.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a decreasing trend, ensure the verb tense agrees with the subject. Use "are declining" for plural subjects and "is declining" for singular subjects.

Common error

Avoid using "is declines" because the verb "is" requires a singular noun or a present participle (e.g., "is declining"). "Declines" is a plural noun, so it doesn't agree with the singular verb "is".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is declines" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct form should use a present participle (e.g., "is declining") or a different structure to be grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is declines" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI states, the correct form should use a present participle such as "is declining". While it appears in some online sources, its usage is inconsistent with standard English grammar. When aiming to express a decreasing trend, consider using alternatives like "is decreasing", "are declining", or "is on the decline" to ensure clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is decreasing

Replaces the noun 'declines' with the present continuous verb 'decreasing' to correct the grammatical structure.

is diminishing

Uses 'diminishing' instead of 'declines' to describe a reduction, fitting grammatically with 'is'.

is falling

Substitutes 'declines' with 'falling', offering a more direct and grammatically sound way to express a downward trend.

are declining

Corrects the subject-verb agreement by using the plural form 'are' with the plural noun 'declining'.

is on the decline

Employs the idiomatic expression 'is on the decline' for a more natural and grammatically correct phrasing.

is seeing a decline

Uses 'is seeing a decline' to rephrase the sentence, making it grammatically correct by using a noun phrase.

is experiencing a decrease

Replaces 'declines' with 'experiencing a decrease' to provide a formal and grammatically correct alternative.

is showing a reduction

Changes the sentence structure to use 'showing a reduction', which is grammatically sound and expresses a similar meaning.

is trending downward

Offers a modern expression using 'trending downward' to indicate a decline, while maintaining correct grammar.

is in recession

Rephrases the concept using the term 'is in recession', applicable when referring to economic or widespread declines.

FAQs

How can I correctly use a form of 'decline' with the verb 'to be'?

Use "is declining" for singular subjects or "are declining" for plural subjects. For example, "The economy is declining" or "Sales are declining".

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "is declines"?

Alternatives include "is decreasing", "is falling", or "are declining" depending on the subject of the sentence.

When should I use "is declining" versus "are declining"?

"Is declining" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "The market is declining"), while "are declining" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "Profits are declining").

What does it mean when something "is on the decline"?

To be "is on the decline" means that something is decreasing or becoming weaker over time. It's an idiomatic way of expressing a downward trend.