it increased by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it increased by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a change in quantity, value, or measurement, typically in a statistical or financial context. Example: "The company's revenue increased by 15% this quarter compared to the last."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Was it increased by warmer ocean waters?

The Guardian

But between 2001 and 2011 it increased by 12%.

The Economist

Overall, it increased by about 2% over the study period.

The Economist

So, over that 54-year period, it increased by an inflation-adjusted 382.3 percent.

The New York Times

It increased by just 0.6percentt from June 1996 to June 1997.

The New York Times

Even in the five austere coalition years it increased by 0.6%%.

The Guardian

In the West, it increased by 344,000, or 26percentt.

The New York Times

The interest bill on the government's debts caused another headache for the Treasury after it increased by £800m, or 9%.

The Guardian - Business

Judging by the NBS figures, it increased by about 3.45m in 2011.

The Economist

It increased by some 120% in real terms between 1975 and 2003, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

The Economist

That share has risen from 51% since 1990, but it increased by only half a percentage point last year.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "it increased by", ensure that the subject it refers to is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify "sales increased by 20%" instead of just "it increased by 20%".

Common error

Avoid using "it increased by" without clearly indicating what "it" refers to. For example, instead of saying "it increased by a lot", specify "the company's revenue increased by a significant amount" to maintain clarity and avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it increased by" functions as a verb phrase indicating a quantitative change. It highlights the action of growth or augmentation, typically followed by a specific numerical value or percentage. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it increased by" is a very common and grammatically correct way to express a quantitative increase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is most frequently used in scientific and news contexts to convey precise information about growth or augmentation. When using this phrase, clarity is key; always ensure that the subject is clearly defined. For alternative phrasing, consider options such as "it rose by" or "it grew by", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. This analysis is based on a wide range of examples from authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it rose by

Uses the verb "rose" instead of "increased", providing a slightly different nuance but maintaining the same core meaning of growth.

it grew by

Substitutes "increased" with "grew", implying a more organic or natural form of increase.

it expanded by

Replaces "increased" with "expanded", suggesting an increase in size or scope.

there was an increase of

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize the increase itself rather than the subject.

it saw an increase of

Attaches the increase to the subject, indicating that the subject experienced the growth.

it escalated by

Employs "escalated" to convey a more rapid or dramatic increase.

it surged by

Utilizes "surged" to highlight a sudden and significant increase.

the increase was

Shifts the focus to the amount of the increase, rather than the action.

it marked an increase of

Highlights the increase as a notable event or milestone.

it climbed by

Uses the verb "climbed" instead of "increased", providing a different nuance but maintaining the same core meaning of growth.

FAQs

How to use "it increased by" in a sentence?

Use "it increased by" to describe a quantitative increase. For instance, "The population "it increased by" 10% last year", clearly indicating the amount of growth.

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

You can use alternatives like "it rose by", "it grew by", or "it expanded by depending on the context".

Which is correct, "it increased by" or "it was increased by"?

"It increased by" is used in active voice, while "it was increased by" is in passive voice. The active voice is generally more direct and preferred unless the actor is unknown or unimportant.

What's the difference between "it increased by" and "it increased to"?

"It increased by" indicates the amount of change, whereas "it increased to" indicates the final value. For example, "The price increased by $10" means the price went up by $10, while "The price increased to $100" means the final price is $100.