rate of decrease

USAGE SUMMARY

"rate of decrease" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to refer to the amount by which something decreases over a given period of time. For example, "The rate of decrease in the number of people attending live music concerts was significant over the past five years."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The rate of decrease with MAP within regions became smaller along the humidity gradient.

BMC Ecology

Since 2000, the annual rate of decrease has doubled to 2 per cent.

Unicef

The 2.3 percent rate of decrease was steeper than the 0.5percentt first reported.

The New York Times

Orange said the rate of decrease in the average revenue per customer slowed "significantly" in 2001.

The New York Times

It does suggest therefore a slight acceleration in the rate of decrease.

The Guardian

The rate of decrease is probably greater than five years ago, but not much more.

The Guardian

The rate of decrease in fatty acid abundances during diagenesis appears related to the mineralogical host.

Nature

The rate of decrease of temperature with altitude (-dT/dz) is called the lapse rate.

Harvard University

When economic stasis set in, the rate of decrease in poverty slowed down proportionately, and it is still slow.

The New Yorker

National said orders continued to decline in the quarter, but that the rate of decrease had slowed during May.

The New York Times

The rate of decrease in ad revenue seemed to be slowing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing trends, be specific about the time frame over which the "rate of decrease" is measured to provide context and clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming a constant "rate of decrease"; the rate itself may increase or decrease over time. Always check if the rate is constant or variable before making predictions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rate of decrease" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It quantifies the speed or intensity at which a certain quantity is diminishing. Ludwig provides numerous examples across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rate of decrease" is a commonly used noun phrase that describes how quickly something is declining. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and versatile, appearing frequently in science, news, and business contexts. While alternatives like "decline rate" and "speed of reduction" exist, "rate of decrease" remains a standard choice for quantifying diminishing trends. When using this phrase, ensure you provide a clear timeframe and consider whether the rate is constant or variable. The examples provided by Ludwig highlight its broad applicability across diverse fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decline rate

Focuses on the decline aspect and is more concise.

reduction rate

A more straightforward way of expressing the rate at which something is reduced.

speed of reduction

Highlights the speed at which something is reduced.

pace of decline

Emphasizes the tempo or rhythm of the decline.

extent of decline

Focuses on how much something has declined over a period.

magnitude of decrease

Highlights the size or scale of the decrease.

degree of reduction

Highlights the amount or level of reduction.

velocity of decrease

Implies a more scientific or technical context, focusing on the speed and direction of the decrease.

level of decline

Focuses on the measured degree or stage of the decline.

tempo of reduction

Similar to pace, but emphasizes the rhythm or pattern of reduction.

FAQs

How can I use "rate of decrease" in a sentence?

You can use "rate of decrease" to describe how quickly something is declining, for example: "The "rate of decrease" in sales has slowed down this quarter."

What are some alternatives to saying "rate of decrease"?

Some alternatives include "decline rate", "speed of reduction", or "pace of decline", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the rate of decreasing" instead of "rate of decrease"?

While "decreasing" can act as a verb, "rate of decrease" is generally preferred when you want to emphasize the measurement of decline. "Rate of decreasing" is less common and can sound awkward.

What factors might affect the "rate of decrease"?

Many things can influence the rate of decrease. For example, in economics, factors like consumer demand and market conditions can impact the "rate of decrease" in product sales.