through the erosion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "through the erosion of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a process or effect that occurs as a result of gradual deterioration or wearing away of something, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "The community's trust was diminished through the erosion of transparency in the government."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Freedom through the erosion of hierarchy and authority.

The Guardian - Opinion

He is falsifying and losing, through the erosion of the years, the features of Beatriz.

The New Yorker

And I have been thinking about the costs to our society through the erosion of civil rights, the compromise of our principles and the undermining of belief in our judicial system.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Willochra Plain occupies an elongate intermontane basin excavated from a major upwarped structure and achieved through the erosion of some 20,000 feet (6,000 metres) of sediments.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Only later were these buried clays excavated into view by impacts or through the erosion of overlying ground by short-lived bursts of flowing surface water.

BBC

Corestone morphology appears to form through the erosion of loosened grus debris at sharp edges of subaerially exposed joints.

Geomorphology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Through religious control, the erosion of Tibetan language, intense surveillance and "patriotic education" policies the government has sought to suppress traditional beliefs and customs.

The Economist

The players are being rightfully punished whether it's through suspensions or the erosion of their legacies, but Selig has gotten off completely free in spite of his unethical leadership.

Huffington Post

Our young people have lived through the threat of terrorism, but not through the threat of the erosion of democracy.

Independent

The perspectives are: social support (the ability to draw on resources through connections to others), inequalities (the erosion of citizen's sense of social justice and inclusion), and political economy (exclusion from material resources).

BMC Public Health

It is based on the erosion of material through the series of spatially discrete high-frequency electrical discharges (sparks) between the tool and the workpiece.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "through the erosion of", ensure that the subject experiencing erosion is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "progress occurred through the erosion of old ideas", specify whose ideas were eroded: "Progress occurred through the erosion of the CEO's old ideas".

Common error

Avoid using "through the erosion of" when the erosion is not the direct cause, but rather a correlated factor. For example, don't say "Sales declined through the erosion of customer service" if other factors like pricing or product quality also contributed significantly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "through the erosion of" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate the means or process by which something occurs. As Ludwig AI highlights, it describes a gradual decline or weakening.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "through the erosion of" serves as a prepositional phrase indicating causation via gradual decline. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and usable, appearing most frequently in news and scientific contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure clear attribution of what is being eroded and avoid misattributing causation. Alternatives like "due to the decline in" or "as a result of the gradual loss of" can provide similar meanings. The examined examples from authoritative sources demonstrate its correct application in diverse contexts, making it a valuable tool for precise writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to the gradual loss of

Focuses on the effect stemming from the progressive disappearance or reduction of something, which closely resembles the query's intent. Replaces 'through' and 'erosion' with 'due to' and 'gradual loss'.

as a consequence of the wearing away of

Clearly indicates that the effect is a result of gradual depletion, directly mirroring the meaning of the query. Replaces 'through' and 'erosion' with more descriptive terms.

because of the decline in

Directly states a reduction or weakening as the reason for an outcome, reflecting the sense of progressive loss. Replaces 'through' and 'erosion' with 'because of' and 'decline'.

stemming from the depletion of

Indicates that a result originates from a reduction in quantity or force, analogous to erosion's effect. Replaces 'through' and 'erosion' with 'stemming from' and 'depletion'.

owing to the deterioration of

Highlights the process of something worsening or degrading, much like erosion. Replaces 'erosion' with 'deterioration'.

by means of diminishing

Emphasizes the instrumentality of diminishing in achieving a result, similar to the gradual loss implied by the original phrase. Changes 'erosion' to 'diminishing'.

via the undermining of

Highlights the process of weakening or destabilizing something, akin to erosion. Replaces 'erosion' with 'undermining'.

as a result of the attrition of

Implies a wearing down or weakening, similar to erosion. Replaces 'erosion' with 'attrition'.

resulting from the decay of

Indicates a cause-and-effect relationship where the decay leads to a subsequent condition, similar to erosion causing a change. Replaces 'erosion' with 'decay'.

by the gradual disintegration of

Emphasizes the breaking apart or decomposition of something over time, synonymous with erosion. Replaces 'erosion' with 'disintegration'.

FAQs

How can I use "through the erosion of" in a sentence?

You can use "through the erosion of" to describe how something is gradually diminished or weakened. For example: "The company's profits decreased "through the erosion of" its market share".

What are some alternatives to "through the erosion of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "due to the decline in", "as a result of the gradual loss of", or "owing to the deterioration of". These phrases convey a similar meaning of gradual weakening or loss.

Is it correct to say "due to erosion" instead of "through the erosion of"?

Yes, "due to erosion" is a grammatically correct and more concise alternative. However, ""through the erosion of"" emphasizes the process or means by which something is affected, whereas "due to erosion" simply states the cause.

What's the difference between "erosion of" and "decline of" when using the phrase "through the"?

While similar, "erosion" often implies a gradual wearing away or disintegration, suggesting a structural weakening. "Decline of" can refer to a more general reduction in quality, quantity, or influence without necessarily implying structural damage.