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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
shrinkage down
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "shrinkage down" is not correct and is generally not usable in written English.
The term "shrinkage" already implies a reduction, so adding "down" is redundant. Example: "The shrinkage of the fabric after washing was unexpected."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(10)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
2 human-written examples
While the Col hydrogel showed extensive shrinkage (down to ∼20% of initial size) during a few days of culture, the shrinkage of the mBGn-added hydrogel was substantially reduced, and the aminated mBGn-added hydrogel had no observable shrinkage over 21 days.
Science
Nonlinear finite element software (Midas FEA) was used to simulate these results and it was found that a numerical-experimental match can be achieved after applying necessary modifications to the distribution of shrinkage down through the beams' cross-section.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
54 human-written examples
Furthermore, long-term YL-IPA08 administration reversed dendritic shrinkage, down-regulation of neurotrophic signaling pathway within the hippocampus, as well as HPA dysfunctions simultaneously observed in the CUS rats.
Science
The vertical distribution of porosity throughout a clay-rich marsh soil profile was studied in a grassland field with samples taken from the soil surface characterized by water contents near their shrinkage limit down to 2.00 m deep saturated sediments over their liquidity limit.
Science
With minimal but inventive means, Mr. Rothchild conjures up Alice's drastic shrinkage (after downing the contents of the "Drink me" bottle) and growth (after consuming the "Eat me" cake).
News & Media
Early neoadjuvant letrozole studies, in which postmenopausal patients were usually treated for 3 or 4 months [ 15, 3, 16], suggested that prolongation of AI treatment might further improve tumor shrinkage and down-staging, thus facilitating breast-conserving surgery (BCS).
Science
Calculate your clay shrinkage and write down the wet diameter.
Wiki
A further shrinkage potential down to 23.7 µm width with an aspect ratio up to 0.62 has been demonstrated.
Combination of elastic property and composite action could bring shrinkage stress down to 29%% (see relationship Eqs. (8.b) vs. (4) in Fig. 10).
Non-medical nodes have almost no improvement for the proposed dynamism over the conventional because the CP assigned to these nodes is already small and slowing down its shrinkage is not so effective.
"That area undergoes significant atrophy and shrinkage in people with Down syndrome," Salehi said.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Favor using the single word "shrinkage" or a phrase like "reduction in size" for clarity and grammatical correctness. Avoid using "shrinkage down" as it is redundant.
Common error
Don't use "down" after "shrinkage". "Shrinkage" already means a reduction, so adding "down" is unnecessary and makes the phrase grammatically incorrect.
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "shrinkage down" functions as a noun phrase that attempts to describe a reduction. However, it is considered grammatically incorrect because "shrinkage" itself already implies a downward trend or reduction, as confirmed by Ludwig.
Frequent in
Science
66%
News & Media
33%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "shrinkage down" appears in some contexts, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect due to the redundancy of "down", as "shrinkage" inherently implies a reduction. Ludwig AI highlights this grammatical concern. For clearer and more precise writing, it's best to use "shrinkage" alone or alternative phrases like "reduction in size" or "decrease". Using these alternatives will avoid ambiguity and maintain grammatical accuracy, particularly in formal or professional settings. Some reliable sources using this phrase are Acta Biomaterialia, Neuropharmacology, and Engineering Structures.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
reduction
This alternative provides a general term for decreasing something, replacing "shrinkage down" with a single word.
decrease
Similar to "reduction", this term conveys a lessening in size, amount, or intensity.
contraction
This term specifically refers to a reduction in size, often due to cooling or drying.
decrease in size
This alternative explicitly states the type of reduction, making it less ambiguous than "shrinkage down".
reduction in volume
Focuses on the reduction of volume, suitable when describing three-dimensional objects or spaces.
lessening
This term indicates a gradual reduction or weakening.
diminishment
A more formal term for reduction or decrease.
atrophy
This term refers to the wasting away or shrinking of body tissue or an organ.
downsizing
Specifically refers to reducing the size of a company or organization.
compression
This refers to a reduction in volume with applied pressure.
FAQs
Is "shrinkage down" grammatically correct?
No, the phrase "shrinkage down" is grammatically incorrect. The word "shrinkage" already implies a reduction, making the addition of "down" redundant. It's best to use just "shrinkage".
What are some alternatives to "shrinkage down"?
Instead of "shrinkage down", you can use alternatives such as "reduction", "decrease", or "contraction" depending on the context.
How can I use "shrinkage" correctly in a sentence?
Use "shrinkage" to refer to the process or result of something becoming smaller. For example, "The "shrinkage" of the fabric after washing was significant."
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested