poor over time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poor over time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that deteriorates or declines gradually as time passes. Example: "The quality of the product has been poor over time, leading to customer dissatisfaction."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Only a few of the poorest people stay poor over time, and the same is true for the richest, who tend to be at the peak of their earning years.

The New York Times

Despite the reduction in poverty, our analysis is the first to reveal that there was a significant rise in segregation of the poor over time.

World Development

In contrast, for the HR-negative/HER-2-negative subgroup, the prognosis remained poor over time and no significant survival improvement was seen between the two cohorts (1.0 vs. 1.4 years, P = 0.18, Figure 2D; n = 98).

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Cooper Union, founded as a charity to educate New York City's poor, has over time become a very different institution.

The New York Times

Within each cohort, support for spending more on "benefits for the poor" is declining over time.

The Guardian - Opinion

This is one of the few things about a fund that is predictable, and high expenses will definitely make you poorer over time.

Forbes

The aim of this paper is to investigate whether the self-reported health of people living in deprived areas becomes poorer over time faster than among residents living in more affluent areas, and to estimate at what age any differences in self-reported health emerge.

Health and Place

While it is clear there was limited survival and migration of hFbs, the data in this study cannot distinguish whether hFbs exhibited poor survival post-transplantation, or poor engraftment over time in the injured microenvironment.

Plosone

The price gap would narrow over time as the poorer countries pulled themselves out of poverty.

The Guardian

In addition, immobilized chemoselective interfaces have a limited shelf-life as they degrade over time resulting even poorer selectivity [9].

EPJ Techniques and Instrumentation

But because equalizing current financing cannot address disparities built up between rich and poor districts over time, and because discrimination suits have faded with the end of legally sanctioned segregation, the latest wave of cases has begun focusing on conditions and programs, not money.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "poor over time", ensure the context clearly indicates what is becoming poor. Be specific about the aspect that is declining (e.g., "The quality of the data became poor over time" is better than just "Things became poor over time").

Common error

Avoid using "poor over time" as a general, vague statement of decline. Always specify what aspect is becoming "poor" and why. Vague usage can weaken your argument and confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poor over time" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing how something deteriorates or declines in quality as time progresses. As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in English, describing conditions worsening gradually.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "poor over time" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to describe a gradual decline or deterioration as time passes. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, though its frequency is relatively rare. It's most commonly found in scientific and news media contexts. When using the phrase, ensure to specify what exactly is becoming "poor" to avoid vagueness. For more formal contexts, consider alternatives like "deteriorated over time" or "declined over time".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deteriorate over time

Focuses on the gradual worsening of a condition or situation.

decline over time

Suggests a gradual decrease in quality, quantity, or importance.

worsen with time

Emphasizes that a situation becomes increasingly bad as time passes.

degrade over time

Highlights a loss of quality or integrity over a period.

diminish over time

Indicates a reduction or fading away gradually.

regress over time

Implies a return to a previous, less developed state.

fall into disrepair

Specifically suggests a state of neglect or decay.

lose ground over time

Implies a loss of advantage or progress gradually.

become less effective over time

Addresses the reduction in efficacy or impact.

see a gradual decline

Focuses on the observation of a downward trend.

FAQs

How can I use "poor over time" in a sentence?

You can use "poor over time" to describe a situation that deteriorates gradually. For example, "The company's financial performance became "poor over time" due to increased competition".

What's a more formal alternative to "poor over time"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "deteriorated over time" or "declined over time", which convey a similar meaning but with a slightly more professional register.

Is it always negative when something becomes "poor over time"?

Yes, the phrase "poor over time" generally implies a negative trend or decline in quality, condition, or performance. It suggests that something is worsening as time passes.

What's the difference between ""poor over time"" and "getting worse"?

"Poor over time" specifically emphasizes the gradual decline or deterioration occurring across a period. "Getting worse" is a more general statement of worsening conditions, which may or may not imply a gradual change.