moderately lower

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "moderately lower" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a decrease or reduction in something that is not too drastic or severe. Example: "Due to the economic downturn, sales for the company were moderately lower compared to last year." In this sentence, "moderately lower" is used to indicate that the company's sales decreased, but not by a significant amount. It conveys a moderate level of decrease. Another example: "The temperature is expected to be moderately lower tomorrow, with a high of only 70 degrees." Here, "moderately lower" is used to describe the expected decrease in temperature, indicating that it will not be a significant drop but still noticeably cooler than the current temperature.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

After a week of volatile trading, both major indexes ended moderately lower.

The New York Times

Stocks finished moderately lower on very heavy volume after fluctuating throughout the day.

The New York Times

Investors were cautious yesterday, sending share prices moderately lower despite better-than-expected earnings by Sears, Roebuck and United Technologies.

The New York Times

Stock prices closed moderately lower on Friday as investors monitored energy and currency markets.

The New York Times

The average scores among New York State students in the class of 2007 were also moderately lower than in 2006: 491 in critical reading and 505 in math.

The New York Times

Still, natural gas production was flat and oil production was moderately lower in the latest quarter, disappointing Wall Street analysts.

The New York Times

But in the 12 months through June, employment costs were up 3.3percentt, moderately lower than the 3.5percentt increase in the 12-month period that ended in March and therefore unlikely to trouble the Fed.

The New York Times

Though the main gauges closed only moderately lower than they had on Monday, the final numbers do not convey the volatility, nor the pain and psychological damage inflicted on investors.

The New York Times

HOUSTON — With the Memorial Day weekend and summer driving season coming soon, the sudden drop in oil prices could mean that drivers will find moderately lower gasoline prices at just the right moment.

The New York Times

A Fed funds rate at 4.75% or 5%, rather than today's 5.25% will make that process easier, but it will not make it painless.Nor will a moderately lower Fed funds rate do much to stop the economy from slowing.

The Economist

My colleague Terry Macalister reports: The group, which is being scrutinised by the Serious Fraud Office over allegations it charged for tagging offenders who were in prison or dead, admitted that a moratorium on new contracts for the Ministry of Justice meant that earnings would be "moderately lower" in 2014 than this year.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "moderately lower" to indicate a decrease that is noticeable but not drastic. For more significant reductions, consider using phrases like "significantly lower" or "substantially reduced".

Common error

Avoid using "moderately lower" when the context implies a substantial or major decrease. This can mislead the reader about the actual extent of the change. Choose a stronger adjective like "significantly" or "considerably" to more accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "moderately lower" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun by indicating a level of reduction that is neither extreme nor negligible. Ludwig examples show its use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "moderately lower" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to describe a decrease or reduction that is noticeable but not drastic. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and applicability in various contexts. It serves to provide a nuanced description of change, falling between "slightly lower" and "significantly lower". As shown in Ludwig, "moderately lower" finds frequent usage in news, media, and scientific writing. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the extent of the change to avoid misleading the reader. Consider alternatives like "slightly reduced" or "somewhat diminished" for variety. In conclusion, "moderately lower" is a useful tool for precise communication when describing measured decreases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly reduced

Emphasizes the act of reducing something by a small amount, shifting focus from comparison to action.

somewhat diminished

Implies a gradual decrease, adding a nuance of something becoming less over time.

marginally decreased

Highlights that the decrease is at the edge of being noticeable.

modestly declined

Formal term indicating a reduction in number, value or strength.

relatively lessened

Places emphasis on the degree of reduction in relation to something else.

noticeably weakened

Suggests that decrease caused some weakening.

lightly alleviated

Focuses on the reduction of something negative, suggesting a slight relief.

gently eased

Implies a subtle and gradual reduction, often used in contexts where easing pressure or tension is desired.

tempered downward

Suggests a controlled reduction, often used in financial or economic contexts to describe a deliberate adjustment.

minimally impaired

Emphasizes that the decrease caused very little damage or weakening.

FAQs

How can I use "moderately lower" in a sentence?

Use "moderately lower" to describe a reduction that is noticeable but not drastic. For example: "The company's profits were "moderately lower" this quarter compared to last year."

What's the difference between "moderately lower" and "slightly lower"?

"Moderately lower" indicates a more pronounced decrease than "slightly lower". Use "moderately lower" when the difference is clearly noticeable.

What can I say instead of "moderately lower"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat diminished", "slightly reduced", or "marginally decreased" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "moderately lower"?

Yes, "moderately lower" is grammatically correct and commonly used in both formal and informal writing to describe a decrease that is neither minimal nor substantial, as confirmed by Ludwig.