tend to decline

USAGE SUMMARY

"tend to decline" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a trend or tendency in something to move in a downward direction, either in terms of numbers or how something is perceived. For example, "Research shows that the number of students taking part in extracurricular activities tends to decline in their senior year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

E. Interest rates will tend to decline.

The New York Times

There are various reasons why share prices tend to decline during the rights issue process.

The Guardian - Opinion

Back at work within the statutory year, earnings tend to decline comparative to those who have not been on leave.

The Guardian - Opinion

While it's true that fertility does tend to decline in a woman's 30s, it does not suddenly fall off a cliff".

The Guardian

"Whenever standards are raised without the necessary academic and social supports, graduation rates tend to decline and dropout rates increase," the report said.

The New York Times

Compared to people with no e4, those who have it also tend to decline more on memory tests as they age, even without obvious symptoms of Alzheimer's.

The New York Times

Villeda said that the young blood most likely reversed ageing by topping up levels of key chemical factors that tend to decline in the blood as animals age.

The Guardian

The authors, though, find that the data do not support this theory -- stock prices generally do not tend to decline before elections that Democrats win.

The New York Times

Although they tend to decline less than traditional balanced funds during market downturns, they generally do not outperform the market in good times.

The New York Times

Much of the money flowing back to Central America has gone to rebuild countries shattered by civil war or natural disasters.Remittances tend to decline over time.

The Economist

Stocks that attract attention because of bad news still tend to decline, the professors said, in large part because of selling by professionals who manage large portfolios for mutual or pension funds, university endowments and other institutions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing long-term trends, use "tend to decline" to suggest a general direction rather than a guaranteed outcome. This acknowledges potential fluctuations or exceptions to the trend.

Common error

Avoid using "tend to decline" when describing situations with definite or immediate decreases. Phrases like "will decline" or "is declining" are more appropriate for such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tend to decline" functions as a verb phrase indicating a propensity or likelihood for something to decrease or diminish. It is used to express a general trend rather than an absolute certainty. Ludwig confirms this usage is correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tend to decline" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that describes a likely but not guaranteed decrease or downward trend. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is correct in written English. Appearing predominantly in scientific and news media contexts, the phrase serves to communicate trends or probabilities without asserting absolute certainty. When using "tend to decline", be mindful of the degree of certainty you wish to convey and choose alternatives like "seem to decline" or "are to decline" to adjust the nuance. Remember that overstating certainty can be a common error; ensure the phrase aligns with the actual level of predictability in the situation you're describing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seem to decline

Uses "seem" to introduce a degree of uncertainty about the decline, suggesting it's based on observation rather than definitive proof.

tend to fall

Replaces "decline" with "fall", providing a more direct and simple expression of decrease.

tend to decrease

Substitutes "decline" with the more general term "decrease", suitable for various contexts.

appear to decline

Similar to "seem to decline", but uses "appear" to convey the impression of a decline.

trend to decline

Replaces "tend" with "trend" making emphasis in the presence of a pattern of declining

are to decline

Uses "are to decline" which suggests more certainty than "tend to decline"

tend to weaken

Shifts the focus to a decrease in strength or effectiveness rather than quantity.

tend to diminish

Replaces "decline" with "diminish", suggesting a reduction in size, importance, or intensity.

tend to reduce

Replaces "decline" with "reduce" suggesting a reduction in amount or size.

tend to drop

Uses "drop" for a more abrupt or sudden decrease, implying a quicker rate of decline.

FAQs

How can I use "tend to decline" in a sentence?

Use "tend to decline" to describe a general trend or tendency for something to decrease or diminish over time. For example, "Sales tend to decline during the winter months".

What are some alternatives to "tend to decline"?

You can use alternatives like "seem to decline", "tend to fall", or "appear to decline" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "tend to decline" in formal writing?

Yes, "tend to decline" is suitable for formal writing. It's a clear and professional way to express a general downward trend or tendency.

What's the difference between "tend to decline" and "are to decline"?

"Tend to decline" suggests a likely but not guaranteed decrease, while "are to decline" implies a more definite or predetermined decrease. Use "are to decline" when the decline is certain or planned.