mark down

USAGE SUMMARY

"mark down" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It usually means to reduce a price or enter a smaller value than the usual or original number. For example, "I had to mark down the Item's price from $10 to $8 since it had a few defects."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

What did you mark down on your pocket schedule?

The New York Times

"We didn't have a piece to mark down," he said.

The New York Times - Style

Figures from Israel's intelligence service mark down 2010 as the calmest year for a decade.

The Economist

And mark down how many of each you see on the obituary page.

The New Yorker

We are putting our mark down and building our confidence.

BBC

You can also mark down things you've already done.

TechCrunch

If some stores become too crowded, they are likely to mark down items.

Forbes

Beginning Friday, retailers across virtually all categories will mark down prices, sometimes 50 %, 60, even 70%.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

BEST: Brooks Brothers' mark-down sales.

Forbes

Indeed, clients began to complain of a "sudden mark-down" of their positions.

Huffington Post

Fruit and produce, look at the mark-down bin.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mark down" in contexts where you want to emphasize that something is being written down for future reference or is being reduced in price, for example, "Make sure to "mark down" all your expenses".

Common error

Avoid using "mark down" interchangeably with phrases like "mark up." "Mark up" means to increase the price, which is the opposite of "mark down."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mark down" functions primarily as a phrasal verb. It is used to indicate an action, either reducing a price or recording information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mark down" is a versatile phrasal verb with two primary meanings: to reduce a price and to record information. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. The usage is common across News & Media and Wiki sources, suggesting a neutral register. When writing, be mindful of the context to avoid confusion with similar phrases like "mark up". Remember that the specific meaning depends on the situation, whether it's a sale at a store or taking notes in a meeting. Ludwig's examples showcase the phrase in real-world contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce the price

Specifically refers to lowering the cost of an item.

lower the cost

Synonymous with reducing the price, but more explicit.

write down

Focuses on the act of recording information.

make a note of

Similar to "write down", but often used for something brief.

take note of

Implies paying attention to and remembering something.

jot down

Suggests a quick and informal way of writing something.

decrease the value

Emphasizes the reduction in worth or importance.

record

A general term for preserving information in a lasting form.

put on record

Emphasizes making something officially known or documented.

set down

Implies writing something formally or officially.

FAQs

What does "mark down" mean?

The phrase "mark down" can mean to reduce the price of something, like in a retail setting. It can also mean to write something down, such as notes or observations.

How can I use "mark down" in a sentence?

You might say, "The store will "mark down" prices on winter clothes in the spring", or "I need to "mark down" the meeting time in my calendar."

What's a synonym for "mark down" when referring to price reduction?

When referring to reducing a price, you can use alternatives like "reduce the price" or "discount".

What's a synonym for "mark down" when referring to writing something down?

If you mean to write something down, alternatives include "write down", "take note of", or "jot down".