plummeted to zero

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plummeted to zero" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant and rapid decrease in quantity, value, or performance, often in a financial or statistical context. Example: "The company's stock price plummeted to zero after the scandal was revealed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The prospects for a small-business tax bill plummeted to zero, so he has come up with an argument intended to win Democratic votes for these tax credits: emphasizing the environmentally friendly nature of the dry-cleaning solvents.

The New York Times

In fact, even if emissions somehow plummeted to zero tomorrow, it would still take many years for the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere to start tapering.  .

Huffington Post

Meanwhile, banks and credit-rating agencies pretended that financial alchemy could convert bad mortgages into AAA assets, and the Fed looked the other way as the U.S. household-savings rate plummeted to zero.

Huffington Post

However, at EE2 exposure levels of 5 ng/L and higher, male receptivity decreased and male fitness plummeted to zero.

Evolutionary Applications

Analyses carried out on the data partitioned by gene never reached convergence and showed symptoms of over-parameterization across several independent runs (i.e., mean rate plummeted to zero after only a few million generations).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In recent years, the average catch plummeted to two kilograms per day, yielding a subsistence wage.

The New York Times

After Senator Ernst made her comment, Congress's approval rating plummeted to four per cent.

The New Yorker

Garcia plummeted to six under par for the tournament, a distant 10 strokes behind Woods.

The New York Times - Sports

Texans pumped so much oil out of the Woodbine that prices, which had peaked at a dollar and ten cents a barrel, plummeted to thirteen cents.

The New Yorker

During her first winter, Ms. Ackerman said, the wind chill plummeted to minus-40 degrees and tears obscured her vision while she worked.

The New York Times

Shafilea fell so ill as a consequence that she had to be rushed back to hospital in England where her weight plummeted to five stone.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "plummeted to zero" to describe situations where there is a sudden and dramatic decline, especially in numerical or measurable contexts such as statistics, scores, or values.

Common error

Don't use "plummeted to zero" to describe slow or incremental decreases. This phrase implies a rapid and significant drop. For gradual changes, consider alternatives like "decreased steadily" or "gradually declined".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plummeted to zero" functions as a verb phrase, specifically describing a sudden and complete decline. Ludwig's examples show it used in contexts where values or quantities sharply decrease to nothing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "plummeted to zero" accurately describes a rapid and total decline to nothing. While grammatically correct, Ludwig indicates that it is a rare phrase, primarily found in news and scientific contexts. It is best used to describe dramatic decreases in measurable quantities, as using it for gradual changes is inappropriate. Alternatives include "dropped to nil" or "fell to nothing" for slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dropped to nil

Replaces "zero" with "nil", emphasizing the complete absence of something.

hit zero

A more concise and direct way of expressing a fall to zero.

fell to nothing

Uses "fell" instead of "plummeted", indicating a less drastic descent.

decreased to nothing

Replaces "plummeted" with "decreased", offering a more gradual sense of reduction.

evaporated completely

Suggests the subject disappeared entirely, like a liquid turning into vapor.

vanished completely

Shifts the focus to complete disappearance rather than a decrease to zero.

collapsed entirely

Indicates a complete breakdown or failure, leading to a zero state.

reached rock bottom

Implies the lowest possible point was reached, not necessarily numerical zero.

bottomed out

An idiom indicating the end of a decline, reaching the lowest point.

dwindled to insignificance

Focuses on the loss of importance or impact as it approaches zero.

FAQs

How can I use "plummeted to zero" in a sentence?

Use "plummeted to zero" to describe a sudden and rapid decrease to nothing. For example, "After the scandal, the company's stock price "plummeted to zero"".

What can I say instead of "plummeted to zero"?

You can use alternatives like "dropped to nil", "fell to nothing", or "decreased to nothing" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "plummeted to zero"?

Yes, "plummeted to zero" is a correct and usable phrase in English to describe a rapid decrease to nothing.

What's the difference between "plummeted to zero" and "reached rock bottom"?

"Plummeted to zero" implies a literal drop to a value of zero, while "reached rock bottom" is an idiom indicating the lowest possible point, not necessarily a numerical value.