the graph dips

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the graph dips" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation in which a graph, chart, or plot falls suddenly in value. For example, "The stock market graph dips on news of a potential trade war."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The graph dips every so often.

The New York Times

Mexico 86 42 goals in 15 games Italia 90 30 goals in 15 games USA 94 44 goals in 15 games France 98 42 goals in 15 games Korea/Japan 02 26 goals in 15 games Germany 06 23 goals in 13 games The graph dips dramatically for Italia 90, a widely acknowledged farrago of negativity, then rises again as the impact of the backpass law is felt, before dipping even further.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The graph below clearly has dips where the AppEngine instance was having to work less hard.

The Guardian

We confirmed that dips in the graph appear near the music boundaries.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

The dips in the graph are taken as candidates for music boundaries when music pieces continue, and the flat low parts in the histogram are regarded as a voice section.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

John: A little dip in the graph in a marriage of 40 years.

The New York Times

Literary biographers almost routinely acknowledge a dropping off in the last part of the catalogue, and the longevity made possible by modern medicine has merely made this dip in the graph potentially steeper.

The Guardian - Opinion

And while applications that do reach the peak position in the App Store eventually lose steam, revenue tends to remain consistent over time after the initial dip (see the graph below).

TechCrunch

Michigan briefly weakened for Obama, leading to a dip in the graph for Obama, but subsequently strengthened back up.

Huffington Post

Off-the-graph oddity.

Independent

The graph since the grand slam in 2009 has dipped enough to see Ireland at 50% over the 24 Tests since.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing data trends, ensure that the context is clear. Specify what the graph represents and the units of measurement for clarity. For instance, "The graph dips, showing a decrease in sales from 2024 to 2025."

Common error

Avoid assuming that a dip in the graph directly causes another event. Correlation does not equal causation. Further analysis is often needed to establish causal relationships.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the graph dips" primarily functions as a statement describing a trend or change observed in a visual representation of data. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and can be used in written English to describe a sudden fall in a graph.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the graph dips" is a grammatically correct and relatively common expression used to describe a downward trend in a graph. Ludwig examples show it appearing in contexts ranging from news reports to scientific articles. While the phrase is simple and direct, writers should provide sufficient context to clarify what the graph represents and avoid misinterpreting correlation as causation. Alternatives such as "the graph declines" or "the graph falls" can be used interchangeably, depending on the desired level of formality. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is suitable for use in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the graph declines

Replaces "dips" with a more general term for decrease, maintaining the core meaning.

the graph falls

Substitutes "dips" with "falls", indicating a downward movement in the graph.

the chart dips

Replaces "graph" with "chart", a synonymous term.

the plot dips

Substitutes "graph" with "plot", another synonymous term.

the graph decreases

Uses the formal term "decreases" instead of "dips", suitable for more academic contexts.

the graph shows a decline

Adds a descriptive element, emphasizing the presence of a decline.

the trendline dips

Specifies "trendline" instead of the general "graph", adding specificity.

the curve dips

Replaces "graph" with "curve", useful when referring to a curved line in a graph.

a dip is observed in the graph

Changes the sentence structure to passive voice, focusing on the observation.

there is a decrease in the graph

Rephrases to highlight the existence of a decrease.

FAQs

What does "the graph dips" mean?

The phrase "the graph dips" means there's a downward trend or decrease shown in a graphical representation of data. It suggests a reduction in the value or quantity being measured over a certain period.

What can I say instead of "the graph dips"?

You can use alternatives like "the graph declines", "the graph falls", or "the graph decreases" depending on the context.

Is "the graph dips" formal or informal language?

"The graph dips" is considered neutral language, suitable for both news reports and general discussions. More formal alternatives include phrases like "the graph exhibits a decline".

How can I use "the graph dips" in a sentence?

You might say, "After the initial surge in users, "the graph dips" slightly, indicating a period of user churn." Ensure the sentence provides context on what the graph represents.