month by month

USAGE SUMMARY

"month by month" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe something that occurs or changes gradually over a period of time, with each month being a unit of measurement. Example: "The company's profits have been growing month by month, showing a steady increase in revenue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

Month by month, that's changing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Month by month, he grew weaker.

The New York Times

Month by month, our figures are doubling".

The Guardian - Music

Month by month, the title loses buyers.

The Guardian

Revenues began increasing month by month.

Harvard Business Review

Patterns of consumption changed almost month by month.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Using hourly daily data, the average quiet-time variability of TEC is determined hour-by-hour and month-by-month.

Advances in Space Research

Month-by-month and grouped-month analyses of a five-year study.

Harvard University

Month-by-month trends are presented in Figure 59.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Finally, we perform a month-by-month large length-scale global inversion of the remaining residuals.

Earth, Planets and Space

The descent of Alice Howland, Ph.D., is told in month-by-month chapters.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "month by month" to describe a gradual process or change that occurs regularly over time. For example: "The project's budget was reviewed month by month to ensure it stayed within limits."

Common error

Don't use "month by month" when referring to a single event that happens once a month. Instead, use "monthly" or "on a monthly basis". For example, say "The report is issued monthly", not "The report is issued month by month".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "month by month" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to describe how something progresses or changes gradually over a series of months. As Ludwig AI points out, this usage is grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

32%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "month by month" serves as an adverbial phrase used to depict gradual changes or progressions occurring over successive months. As verified by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly employed across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. The phrase is generally neutral in tone, although more frequent in professional settings. To ensure accuracy, avoid using it to describe singular monthly events, instead opting for "monthly". Related alternatives include "on a monthly basis" or "month after month", offering subtle differences in emphasis. "Month by month" highlights continuous development, making it a versatile tool for clear and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

month after month

Emphasizes the repetitive aspect of the action over consecutive months.

from month to month

Highlights the variation or changes that occur between successive months.

on a monthly basis

Formal alternative emphasizing the regularity of the occurrences.

with each passing month

Emphasizes the continuous flow of time and its impact.

each month

Focuses on the individual months rather than the continuous progression.

every month

Similar to "each month", highlighting the recurring nature of the event.

in monthly increments

Highlights the step-by-step progression occurring each month.

over the months

Focuses on the accumulated changes or developments during the period.

progressively each month

Adds a sense of advancement or improvement with each monthly interval.

monthly

A concise, single-word adjective form of the phrase.

FAQs

How can I use "month by month" in a sentence?

Use "month by month" to describe a process or change that happens incrementally over successive months. For example: "The company's revenue increased "month by month" due to the new marketing campaign."

What phrases are similar to "month by month"?

Alternatives include "on a monthly basis", "every month", or "month after month", each subtly emphasizing different aspects of the ongoing process.

Is there a difference between "monthly" and "month by month"?

"Monthly" is an adjective describing something that happens once a month, while "month by month" describes a process unfolding incrementally across multiple months. Use "monthly" for recurring events and "month by month" for gradual changes.

When should I not use "month by month"?

Avoid using "month by month" when referring to a single, isolated event occurring each month. In those cases, "monthly" is more appropriate. For instance, say "The bill is due monthly" rather than "The bill is due "month by month"".