lower by

USAGE SUMMARY

"lower by" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a reduction in something. For example, "The cost of living has lowered by 4% in the past year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Oil is being driven lower by oversupply.

The Economist

Its shares were lower by about 2.5 percent, at $44.94.

The New York Times

500 were 0.7 percent lower by late afternoon in Asia.

The New York Times

Bond Prices Drift Lower By The Associated Press Bond prices drifted slightly lower yesterday.

The New York Times

And typically, the rates are lower by between10percentand15percentrcent".

The New York Times

But profit-taking took the shares 20p lower by the close, to 1,4371/2p.

The Guardian - Business

Wall Street was around 120 points lower by the time London closed.

The Guardian - Business

The Southern Nevada Water Authority estimates that it will be significantly lower by July.

The New Yorker

rate will go down to 1percentt or even lower by mid-2009".

The New York Times

In such circumstances, world output could be 3.9% lower by 2020 than the IMF is expecting.

The Guardian - Business

A dip in US consumer confidence pushed Wall Street lower by the time London closed.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lower by", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being reduced and by how much. For example, "The interest rate was lowered by 0.5%."

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly stating both the original value and the reduced value when using "lower by". For instance, instead of saying "Prices were lower by a significant amount", specify "Prices were lowered from $100 to $75".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lower by" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, adjective, or noun, indicating the extent of a reduction. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lower by" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to indicate a specific reduction in value or quantity. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness, and it appears most frequently in news and media, as well as formal business contexts. When employing this phrase, clarity is key: ensure you clearly specify what is being reduced and by how much. Remember that while alternatives like "reduced by" or "decreased by" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Keep in mind "lower by" is already a good choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced by

Uses a different verb with a similar meaning of decreasing the quantity.

decreased by

Employs an alternative verb to denote a reduction in value or quantity.

diminished by

Suggests a lessening, often in a more gradual or subtle way.

cut by

Implies a sharp or distinct reduction, often in an intentional manner.

lessened by

Indicates a reduction in intensity or degree.

brought down by

Suggests an external force causing the reduction.

discounted by

Specifically related to price reductions or sales.

scaled back by

Used when referring to a reduction in scope or size of a project.

shaved off by

Implies a small, almost negligible reduction.

subtracted by

Directly indicates the mathematical operation of subtraction.

FAQs

How do I use "lower by" in a sentence?

Use "lower by" to indicate a specific reduction in quantity or value. For example, "The temperature dropped and was "lower by" 10 degrees".

What are some alternatives to "lower by"?

Alternatives include "reduced by", "decreased by", or "diminished by", each offering slightly different nuances in meaning.

Is it correct to say "lowered from" instead of "lower by"?

While "lower by" indicates the amount of reduction, "lowered from" specifies the starting point. Both are correct but used in different contexts. For instance, "The price was "lower by" $5" versus "The price was lowered from $20 to $15".

What's the difference between "lower by" and "decrease by"?

"Lower by" and "decrease by" are largely interchangeable, both indicating a reduction. The choice often depends on stylistic preference or the specific context, as they carry nearly identical meanings.