slowly declining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slowly declining" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a gradual decrease in quantity, quality, or status over time. Example: "The population of the species has been slowly declining due to habitat loss and climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The number of death sentences was already slowly declining.

The Economist

Global crude oil inventories have been slowly declining.

The New York Times

Unemployment has been steadily, if slowly, declining in recent months.

The Guardian - Business

Unemployment, which had been slowly declining, to 14 percent from 25 percent, surged to 19 percent.

The New York Times

But the regular pattern of a Christmas peak on a slowly declining graph may be changing.

The Economist

Thanks to billions of dollars spent on diagnosis and treatment over the past decade, deaths and infections are slowly declining.

The New York Times

Annual Utah coal production, though, has been slowly declining for a decade according to the federal Energy Information Administration.

The New York Times

Progress here could be the difference between a prosperous Africa and a slowly declining, less stable continent, with global repercussions.

The Guardian

With a slowly declining circulation and dwindling budgets, the NOTW's editors and their staff were required to produce the same quantities of agenda-setting salaciousness with fewer resources.

Independent

"We've gone from being a slowly declining and deflating urban balloon, to one of the fastest-growing cities in Tennessee," said Littlefield.

The New York Times

Once more, a universal cultural language to a large extent unified aims in the scattered languages; English still plays this role, though it appears to be slowly declining.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slowly declining" to describe trends or quantities that are decreasing at a gradual pace. This helps to create a sense of steady but consistent reduction over time.

Common error

Avoid using "slowly declining" when the decrease is rapid or abrupt. This phrase is best suited for situations where the decline is gradual and sustained, not sudden or drastic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slowly declining" functions as a descriptor, specifying the manner in which something is decreasing. According to Ludwig, it suggests a gradual and consistent decrease over time. It often modifies nouns representing quantities, qualities, or conditions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

40%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "slowly declining" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to depict a gradual decrease over time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's versatile enough for both formal and informal contexts, as evidenced by its prevalence in news media, scientific publications, and encyclopedias. When using this phrase, ensure the context accurately reflects a gradual, rather than sudden, decrease. For alternative expressions, consider phrases like "gradually decreasing" or "steadily diminishing".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gradually decreasing

Replaces "slowly" with "gradually", emphasizing the gradual nature of the decrease.

steadily diminishing

Uses "steadily" and "diminishing" to convey a consistent and lessening trend.

progressively dwindling

Emphasizes the step-by-step nature of the reduction using "progressively" and "dwindling".

moderately falling

Substitutes "slowly" with "moderately", suggesting a less intense rate of decline.

gently receding

Implies a mild and gradual retreat using "gently" and "receding".

inching downwards

Uses a more informal and visual term to show a very gradual reduction.

experiencing a gradual downturn

Rephrases the concept using "experiencing a gradual downturn", focusing on the overall process.

softly decreasing

Similar to "slowly decreasing", but emphasizes that decrease is smooth/soft.

attenuating gradually

Attenuation means reducing amplitude/intensity of something; more formal than "slowly declining".

decelerating over time

Focuses on the reduction in speed of something through deceleration.

FAQs

How can I use "slowly declining" in a sentence?

You can use "slowly declining" to describe something that is gradually decreasing over time. For example, "The number of users is slowly declining." or "His health has been slowly declining over the years."

What are some alternatives to "slowly declining"?

Alternatives to "slowly declining" include "gradually decreasing", "steadily diminishing", or "progressively dwindling", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "slowly declining" in formal writing?

Yes, "slowly declining" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a neutral and clear way to describe a gradual decrease. The examples provided by Ludwig come from a variety of reputable sources, including news, scientific and academic publications.

What's the difference between "slowly declining" and "rapidly declining"?

"Slowly declining" indicates a gradual decrease over time, while "rapidly declining" suggests a much faster rate of decrease. The choice between the two depends on the speed at which the decrease is occurring.