it fluctuates considerably

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it fluctuates considerably" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation or variable that experiences significant changes or variations over time. Example: "The stock market is unpredictable; it fluctuates considerably, making it challenging for investors to make informed decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Rainfall averages only 4 to 6 inches (100 to 150 mm) annually, though it fluctuates considerably from year to year.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Since the instantaneous self-normalization warp is estimated from a short segment of data (as short as one spoken digit), it fluctuates considerably.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Even though the Salween's catchment area is limited and is sheltered from seasonal rains, its water volume fluctuates considerably from season to season.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It can be seen that total private investment fluctuates considerably over booms and busts.

The New York Times

Rivers provide limited inland transport routes because their flow fluctuates considerably, and they are subject to seasonal flooding.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But the gap between them fluctuates considerably from one survey to another, from as little as 8 points to as much as 23 points.

The New York Times

However, the B value fluctuates considerably even when the magnitude of earthquakes is relatively small, like M4 or M5.

Earth, Planets and Space

The average breaking stress also fluctuates considerably, from 26.60 to 35.72 MPa with the temperature variations investigated here.

Materials & Design

However, a cross-spectral estimate of Δφ(f) is not very reliable because the phase delay between TEC and B time series fluctuates considerably during the analyzed events.

Earth, Planets and Space

The results demonstrate that node criticality fluctuates considerably over time, because nodes with high activity during the morning hours are less critical during the evening hours, and vice versa.

International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection

Due to the low abundance and short half-life, the Cln3 profile fluctuates considerably.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it fluctuates considerably", ensure that the subject 'it' is clearly defined in the context to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify: 'The price of oil fluctuates considerably'.

Common error

Avoid using "it fluctuates considerably" when the changes are minor or insignificant. Reserve this phrase for situations where the variations are substantial and impactful.

Linguistic Context

"It fluctuates considerably" functions as a descriptive phrase indicating that a particular subject experiences significant and irregular changes. This phrase adds emphasis to the instability of the subject, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

26%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it fluctuates considerably" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe substantial and irregular changes in a subject. While Ludwig marks the phrase as correct, its frequency of use is uncommon, appearing more often in scientific, news, and encyclopedic contexts. For more informal communications "it varies a lot" can be a valid alternative to this construction. To ensure clarity, always specify what 'it' refers to. Be mindful of not using this phrase if the variations are minor or insignificant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it varies significantly

Changes 'fluctuates considerably' to 'varies significantly', emphasizing the range of change rather than the back-and-forth nature.

it changes dramatically

Replaces 'fluctuates considerably' with 'changes dramatically', highlighting the intensity of the variations.

it swings widely

Uses 'swings widely' instead of 'fluctuates considerably', suggesting a pendulum-like movement between extremes.

it oscillates substantially

Substitutes 'fluctuates considerably' with 'oscillates substantially', implying a rhythmic back-and-forth movement with significant amplitude.

it is highly variable

Replaces 'fluctuates considerably' with 'is highly variable', focusing on the unpredictable nature of the changes.

it shows considerable variation

Changes 'it fluctuates considerably' to 'it shows considerable variation', which is a more formal way of expressing the same idea.

it is subject to wide swings

Replaces 'fluctuates considerably' with 'is subject to wide swings', emphasizing the external forces causing the fluctuations.

it undergoes substantial shifts

Uses 'undergoes substantial shifts' instead of 'fluctuates considerably', highlighting the transformational aspect of the changes.

it experiences major ups and downs

Replaces 'fluctuates considerably' with 'experiences major ups and downs', using a more informal and descriptive expression.

it demonstrates marked instability

Changes 'fluctuates considerably' to 'demonstrates marked instability', focusing on the lack of equilibrium.

FAQs

How can I use "it fluctuates considerably" in a sentence?

Use "it fluctuates considerably" to describe something that changes a lot. For example, "The stock market is volatile; "it fluctuates considerably"."

What are some alternatives to saying "it fluctuates considerably"?

You can use alternatives such as "it varies significantly", "it changes dramatically", or "it is highly variable" depending on the context.

Is "it fluctuates considerably" formal or informal?

"It fluctuates considerably" is generally considered neutral to formal. More informal options might include "it goes up and down a lot".

Which is correct, "it fluctuates considerably" or "it fluctuates a lot"?

Both are grammatically correct, but ""it fluctuates considerably"" is often perceived as more formal and precise, while "it fluctuates a lot" is more conversational.