it declined by

USAGE SUMMARY

"it declined by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when expressing a decrease in quantity or intensity. For example, "Sales of the product declined by 25% in the last quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

(In fact, it declined by 3.3 percent).

The New York Times

Over the week it declined by 2.7%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 3.1%.

The Economist

In January, it declined by 10.3% compared with the previous year.

The Economist

In one quarter it declined by 21,000 and other quarters showed similar falls.

The Guardian - Business

That still left Japan with a trade surplus of 196.5 billion yen ($2.4 billion), although it declined by 78.9 percent.

The New York Times

As it declined by 0.5% in the previous three months, it is flatlining, to use the jargon.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

The estimated real wage cyclicality falls only by 15%% while it declines by almost half for workers with more than 6 years of tenure.

SERIEs

If interest rates increased by only one percentage point from their 40-year lows, a holder of a 10-year Treasury would see its value decline by 7.8%, while the holder of the 30-year bond would see it decline by 13.7%.

Forbes

In the euro zone, where it peaked in 2009, it has declined by 11%.

The Economist

(For example, oil production in the continental United States increased steadily through the early and mid-20th century until it peaked in 1970; by 2008 it had declined by almost 50 percent from its peak).

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Even if it is declined by the Parliament, or even if it does not gain 10,000 signatures, it can already be considered as successful because of the wide publicity of the idea," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it declined by", always specify the unit or percentage of the decline to provide clear and quantifiable information. For instance, "The company's profits declined by 15% last quarter."

Common error

Avoid using "it declined by" with nouns that cannot be quantified. Instead of saying "The mood declined by sadness", use a more appropriate phrase like "The mood shifted to sadness."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it declined by" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating a reduction or decrease. It's used to quantify the amount of decrease, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. The structure involves a subject ("it"), a verb ("declined"), a preposition ("by"), and a numerical value specifying the reduction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

44%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it declined by" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a quantifiable decrease. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in a variety of contexts. It's frequently found in news and scientific reporting, with a neutral to formal tone. When using this phrase, ensure you are describing something that can be measured and that you specify the amount of the decline. While "it decreased by", "it fell by", and "it dropped by" are suitable alternatives, the best choice will depend on the specific nuance you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it decreased by

Replaces "declined" with "decreased", a direct synonym indicating a reduction in quantity or value.

it fell by

Substitutes "declined" with "fell", suggesting a sudden or rapid decrease.

it dropped by

Uses "dropped" instead of "declined", implying a more abrupt and potentially significant reduction.

it reduced by

Replaces "declined" with "reduced", emphasizing the action of making something smaller or less.

it diminished by

Uses "diminished" instead of "declined", suggesting a gradual decrease in size or importance.

it lessened by

Replaces "declined" with "lessened", indicating a reduction in intensity or degree.

it contracted by

Uses "contracted" instead of "declined", often used in economic contexts to describe a reduction in size or scope.

it shrank by

Replaces "declined" with "shrank", indicating a reduction in size or amount, often physically.

there was a decline of

Changes the structure to emphasize the decline as an event or state.

it experienced a decrease of

Emphasizes the experience of a decrease, suitable for formal or analytical contexts.

FAQs

How do I use "it declined by" in a sentence?

Use "it declined by" to describe a quantifiable decrease. For example, "The stock price "it declined by" 10%" or "Sales "it declined by" 20 units".

What can I say instead of "it declined by"?

You can use alternatives like "it decreased by", "it fell by", or "it dropped by" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "it declined by"?

Yes, "it declined by" is grammatically correct when used to describe a measurable decrease. Ludwig AI confirms that this is acceptable in written English.

What's the difference between "it decreased by" and "it declined by"?

The phrases "it decreased by" and "it declined by" are largely synonymous and can often be used interchangeably. The choice often depends on stylistic preference or the specific nuance you wish to convey.