threefold

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "threefold" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is three times as much or in three parts. Example: "The company's profits increased threefold over the last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As protests continue to be organised around England by students angry at the planned almost threefold rises in university tuition fees, the Welsh last week announced that they would not be falling in behind Westminster's proposals.

The Guardian

Sources say the lessons they have drawn from Canada are threefold: first, that "showing up" at community events matters; second, that it is imperative to engage heavily with specialist minority media; and third, to mind your language.

The Guardian - Opinion

The demands of the Don't Shoot Coalition, which was formed in the aftermath of Brown's death, are local and threefold: end racial profiling in the St Louis metro area, bring in better tools to hold law enforcement officers accountable, and build police departments that reflect the communities they serve.

The Guardian

The government encouraged them to do this, first by making cash bursaries mandatory in 2006, and then with the introduction of the National Scholarship Programme (NSP), which was created in 2012 to allay fears created by the threefold fee cap increase to £9,000 per year.

The Guardian

But in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and the other five nations whose territories cover 40% of the Amazon basin, the loss of vegetation increased threefold in the same period, wiping out a combined area of forest cover of more than 32,000 sq km.

The Guardian

"The profit used to be threefold," says Naeem, who is trying to get into tourism, while still transporting cargoes of clothing and foodstuffs from time to time.

The Guardian

It aims to see a threefold increase in businesses and revenues in Sunderland before 2020, with a creation of 2,000 new software jobs.

The Guardian

The fear is threefold.

The Economist

By the same token, the 14-year rule of Vladimir Putin, heir to what remained, has been bolstered by a threefold rise in the oil price.Now the oil price is falling again.

The Economist

The six founding countries are outnumbered threefold by those who have joined since.

The Economist

Its purpose was threefold: to cut emissions; to get polluters to pay for the damage they cause; and to get industry to invest in cleaner technology.Under the ETS, countries set national targets for emissions and give 13,000 factories and power plants in Europe's five dirtiest industries allowances to emit a certain quantity of carbon.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider if a more direct synonym like "tripled" might be clearer and more concise, especially in technical or scientific writing.

Common error

Avoid using "threefold" when you mean an increase to three times the original amount. "Threefold" indicates an increase by a factor of three, meaning the new amount is four times the original (original + threefold increase).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "threefold" primarily functions as an adjective or adverb. It modifies nouns or verbs to indicate a quantity or degree that is three times as large or has been multiplied by three. Examples from Ludwig showcase this usage in contexts ranging from fee increases to profit growth. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

18%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "threefold" is a versatile adjective and adverb that expresses a quantity or degree multiplied by three. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage, and it commonly appears in news, business, and scientific contexts. When writing, ensure clarity by explicitly stating what is increasing or being composed of three parts. Remember that "threefold" indicates an increase by a factor of three. Consider alternatives like "tripled" or "three times as much" for potentially clearer communication. With its frequent use and grammatical correctness, "threefold" remains a valuable tool in expressing significant increases and compositions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tripled

Expresses the result of multiplying something by three.

three times as much

States the quantity or degree is increased by a factor of three.

triple

Adjective to describe something composed of three parts or elements.

in triplicate

Indicates something exists in three identical copies.

comprising three parts

Describes something made up of three distinct sections or components.

having three elements

Similar to 'comprising three parts' but focuses on elements rather than parts.

a factor of three

Highlights the multiplicative aspect of the increase.

augmented threefold

Emphasizes the augmentation or increase in a more formal tone.

consisting of three

Focuses on the composition of something being made up of three components.

by three times the amount

Specifies the amount of increase using a more verbose phrasing.

FAQs

How is "threefold" used in a sentence?

You can use "threefold" to describe an increase in quantity or degree by a factor of three. For example: "The company's profits increased "threefold" this year."

What are some alternatives to saying "threefold"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "tripled", "three times as much", or "triple" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say something has increased "threefold" when it's now four times its original size?

Yes, the term ""threefold"" describes an increase by a factor of three. If something is now four times its original size, it has increased "threefold" (1 original + 3 increase = 4 total).

What's the difference between "threefold" and "triple"?

"Threefold" usually describes an increase or multiplication, while "triple" can describe something composed of three parts or an action of multiplying by three. The distinction can be subtle and context-dependent.