steep change

USAGE SUMMARY

"steep change" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a dramatic, sudden, or significant shift in something, often a situation, opinion, or behavior. For example, "The new government implemented a steep change in the policy regarding refugees in the region."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

The securities agency "faces a steep change in European financial regulation.

The New York Times

In this regime, the steep change of σ with the deposition time as σ∝t is consistent with an unstable growth mode.

Surface and Coatings Technology

The expert group will also provide advice on whether climate change has led to a steep change in inflows into the river system.

The Guardian

On completion, the AvalonBay building will be only two feet shorter than the cathedral's southwest tower, though there is such a steep change of grade between the Close and Morningside Drive that it will appear to be 41 feet shorter.

The New York Times

"This deal represents a steep change for Scottish and Newcastle, as they are moving into emerging market territory and taking on market leadership in Russia," said Brian Gallagher of Gartmore Investment Management, which owns some Scottish and Newcastle shares.

The New York Times

The temperature variation of the top flange showed a steep change, while the temperature variation of the bottom flange exhibited a smooth curve throughout the day because of the relative low amount of solar energy and encased internal air.

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The North Pacific Subpolar Gyre is a region of open ocean notable for exhibiting steep changes in environmental conditions (gradients) associated with dramatic changes in the microbial ecosystem.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The phase boundaries and the steep changes in the demixing pressures with temperature are discussed in the framework of the Sanchez Lacombe model.

Polymer

WHERE -- Tucson WHAT -- 4-bedroom house HOW MUCH -- $1.25 million This house is on 3.8 acres bordering Coronado National Forest, which is known for its saguaro cactus, rock formations and steep changes in elevation (3,000 feet to 10,720 feet).

The New York Times - Travel

However, we can see that the WER surface has steep changes in slope at low SNR regions, which signifies the importance of finding an effective SNR mapping between training and test speech for optimal recognition performance.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Steep changes in the subsurface structures, such as faults and/or geological boundaries, are recognized as large absolute values of the first horizontal derivative and the 0 mGal/km isoline (zero isoline) of the first vertical derivative of Bouguer anomalies (Society of Exploration Geophysicists of Japan 1998).

Earth, Planets and Space

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "steep change" when you want to emphasize not just that a change occurred, but that it was surprisingly rapid or dramatic.

Common error

Avoid using "steep change" to describe slow or incremental changes. Reserve it for situations where the shift is sudden and noticeable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "steep change" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "steep" acts as a modifier describing the nature of the "change". It denotes a change that is characterized by its rapid and significant nature. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase can effectively communicate a dramatic shift.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Science & Research

9%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "steep change" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a sudden and significant shift. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively communicates a dramatic alteration. Its usage spans across various contexts, including news, science, and research, indicating its versatility. While alternatives like "abrupt shift" or "sudden transition" exist, "steep change" emphasizes both the speed and magnitude of the transformation. When writing, ensure to reserve "steep change" for scenarios where the alteration is genuinely rapid and noticeable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abrupt shift

Emphasizes the suddenness and unexpected nature of the change, rather than the degree.

sudden transition

Highlights the swiftness of moving from one state to another.

rapid transformation

Focuses on the speed and thoroughness of the change.

marked alteration

Stresses the notability and distinctiveness of the change.

significant modification

Highlights the importance and impact of the alteration.

dramatic upheaval

Implies a disruptive and substantial change, often with negative connotations.

radical adjustment

Suggests a fundamental and far-reaching change.

major deviation

Emphasizes the departure from a previous course or standard.

sharp turn

Conveys an immediate and angular change in direction or trend.

substantial revision

Highlights a significant and thorough correction or amendment.

FAQs

How can I use "steep change" in a sentence?

You can use "steep change" to describe a rapid or significant shift in something. For example, "The company experienced a "steep change" in its marketing strategy after the new CEO took over".

What are some alternatives to using "steep change"?

Alternatives to "steep change" include "abrupt shift", "sudden transition", or "rapid transformation", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "steep change" formal or informal?

"Steep change" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "significant modification" might be preferred in certain professional settings.

What's the difference between "steep change" and "sudden change"?

While both describe rapid shifts, "steep change" often implies a more significant or impactful alteration than "sudden change". A "steep change" suggests a dramatic shift, while a "sudden change" simply emphasizes the speed at which it occurred.