regressing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "regressing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a return to a previous state or condition, often in a negative context, such as in psychology or development. Example: "After several months of progress, the patient began regressing to earlier behaviors that had previously been addressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If we are to retread that ground, we are further regressing.

The Guardian - Opinion

Unfortunately, after an impressive show of bipartisanship in the wake of September 11th, Congress is regressing into acrimony and gridlock.

The Economist

In a subsequent paper, Mr Sharpe put forward ideas on analysing the performance of investment managers by regressing their returns against various benchmarks.

The Economist

Generally, the authors avoid regressing into the urban elitism that is present in much of the journalistic literature about the town.But people keep coming.

The Economist

It gives a snapshot of the current state of knowledge about how and why the virus is spreading or regressing in particular parts of the world.

The Economist

"No doubt Sarkozy approved Mougeotte's appointment, too," says a journalist at Le Figaro.Though Mr Sarkozy promised a "rupture" with many of the bad habits of the past when he came to power earlier this year, what remains of the independence of the media from business and politics seems to be regressing under his reign.

The Economist

Consistently ranking last among European Union members the country keeps regressing.

The Economist

Perhaps the period from 1973-2007 wan anomalyand, and the ratio of workers to non-workers is regressing to a more realistic mean.

The Economist

It gives a snapshot of the current state of knowledge about how and why the virus is spreading or regressing in various parts of the world.

The Economist

(A more rigorous analysis would use a projection for fumble rate rather than a historical average, by weighting recent seasons more heavily and then regressing the forecast back to the league average.

The Economist

Last November he wrote a report that concludes: "instead of progress in the fight against high-level corruption, Romania is regressing on all fronts…if the Romanian anti-corruption effort keeps evaporating at the present pace, in an estimated six months' time Romania will be back where it was in 2003 .This report has not been published (it is now available here).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "regressing", ensure the context clearly indicates the previous state from which something is declining. For example, "The economy is regressing to pre-pandemic levels."

Common error

Avoid using "regressing" when the situation involves initial decline rather than a return to a previous, better state. For example, do not say "The company is regressing into bankruptcy" if it was never previously in a healthy financial state. Instead, use "declining" or "heading".

Linguistic Context

The term "regressing" primarily functions as a verb, specifically the present participle or gerund form of the verb 'regress'. It describes the action of returning to a previous state or condition, often implying a decline or deterioration, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Encyclopedias

11%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "regressing" is a versatile verb form used to describe a return to a previous state, often implying a decline. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct and finds frequent application across various contexts, from news and media to encyclopedias and scientific literature. While alternatives like "deteriorating" and "declining" exist, "regressing" provides a specific nuance of returning to a prior condition. When writing, it's important to ensure that the context clarifies the starting point and that "regressing" accurately reflects a backward movement, rather than an initial decline. Given its widespread use and clear meaning, "regressing" remains a valuable term for expressing nuanced changes over time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

retrogressing

A more formal synonym, emphasizing a backward movement or decline.

reverting

Implies returning to a previous state, directly mirroring the meaning of "regressing".

moving backward

A direct and literal way to express the concept of regression.

relapsing

Specifically indicates a return to a previous, often negative, state or behavior.

deteriorating

Indicates a worsening condition, similar to moving backward from a state of improvement.

backsliding

Suggests a moral or ethical regression, returning to undesirable behaviors.

declining

Suggests a decrease or reduction, akin to regressing from a higher level.

losing ground

Implies a loss of progress or advantage, equivalent to regressing.

slipping back

Suggests a gradual return to a less desirable state.

falling behind

Indicates a failure to maintain pace or progress, resulting in a regression.

FAQs

How can I use "regressing" in a sentence?

You can use "regressing" to describe a return to a former state or condition, often a less desirable one. For example, "After showing signs of improvement, the patient is now "regressing"."

What are some alternatives to the word "regressing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "deteriorating", "declining", "reverting", or "relapsing".

What does it mean for something to be described as "regressing to the mean"?

In statistics, "regressing to the mean" refers to the phenomenon where extreme values tend to move closer to the average value over time. For example, a sports player's exceptional performance may be followed by a more typical performance, "regressing to the mean".

Is there a difference between "regressing" and "retrogressing"?

While both words indicate a movement backward, ""regressing"" is more commonly used in general contexts, while "retrogressing" may be perceived as more formal and emphasize a backward movement or decline.