started to decrease

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "started to decrease" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a decline or reduction in quantity, quality, or intensity that has begun to happen. Example: "After several months of steady growth, the company's profits started to decrease due to market fluctuations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The rate of spherulite growth started to decrease when Pr started to decrease.

Polymer

That's the reason my pace started to decrease.

Independent

In South Africa, infection rates for women under 20 have started to decrease.

The New York Times

At 50 N 0.5-m/s wear rates started to decrease above 50% RH and also the COF started to decrease.

Surface and Coatings Technology

"Unfortunately, the pressures have begun and the support and the aid started to decrease," he said.

The New York Times

Above 500% prestrain, the electroactuation started to decrease because of significant strain-hardening in the sample.

Polymer

Then, however, the intensity started to decrease and eventually reached zero.

Polymer

However, in our study, this amounted to only 5% of the total DOC before it started to decrease.

Nature

As shown in Table 1, the miR-122 level started to decrease at week 4 of UDCA administration.

Nature

The amount of harziaphilic acid reached the maximum after 22 days of co-cultivation, then started to decrease.

Nature

Even if the overall number of cancer is increasing, the mortality has started to decrease in the Western World.

Critical Reviews in Oncology-Hematology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "started to decrease", ensure it's followed by a clear indication of what is decreasing and the context in which the decrease is occurring to provide clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "started to decrease" without specifying what exactly is decreasing. For example, instead of saying "Sales started to decrease", specify "Sales of product X started to decrease".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "started to decrease" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of a reduction or decline. Ludwig's examples show its use across various contexts to describe trends and changes over time. The phrase signals that something has begun to diminish.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

76%

News & Media

19%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "started to decrease" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that indicates the beginning of a decline or reduction. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and applicability across various contexts, primarily in scientific and news-related domains. While versatile, it's essential to specify what is decreasing to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like ""began to decline"" or ""commenced to drop"" can offer nuanced tones. Ensure clarity and context to maximize the effectiveness of this phrase in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

began to diminish

Implies a gradual reduction, similar to "started to decrease" but with a slightly more formal tone.

commenced to decline

A more formal alternative, indicating the beginning of a downward trend.

began to fall

A straightforward alternative, focusing on the action of decreasing.

initiated a reduction

Highlights the start of the process of reduction.

saw a downturn

Indicates the beginning of a negative trend or decline.

experienced a drop

Focuses on the immediate experience of a decrease.

underwent a decline

Highlights that the subject experienced a negative change.

turned downward

Emphasizes the change in direction towards decreasing.

started to wane

Suggests a decrease in power, intensity, or influence.

began its descent

Implies a gradual downward movement, often used metaphorically.

FAQs

How can I use "started to decrease" in a sentence?

You can use "started to decrease" to describe a decline or reduction that has begun. For example, "After peaking in July, the number of new cases "started to decrease"."

What are some alternatives to "started to decrease"?

Some alternatives include "began to decline", "commenced to drop", or "initiated a reduction" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "began to decline" instead of "started to decrease"?

Yes, ""began to decline"" generally carries a slightly more formal tone compared to "started to decrease", which is more neutral.

What's the difference between "started to decrease" and "decreased significantly"?

"Started to decrease" indicates the beginning of a decline, while "decreased significantly" implies a substantial reduction has already occurred. The former focuses on the initiation of the change, while the latter emphasizes the magnitude of the change.