trend down

USAGE SUMMARY

"trend down" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used to describe a decrease in numbers or values over a period of time or a change from one state to another. For example: Recent predictions suggest that the stock market could trend down over the next quarter.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Despite Cameron's efforts, Johnston says the workforce will "probably continue to trend down".

The Guardian

"From a macro point of view, the attacks trend down," he said.

The New York Times

Dr. Frieden said activity was "beginning to trend down in some areas," including Georgia, the site of his agency.

The New York Times - Health

Experts put this trend down to a number of tweaks to gun law in the wake of high-profile shootings.

The Guardian

"The next couple of quarters will bring more headwinds, and growth will probably trend down even more".

The New York Times

"We don't deny that prosecutions, indictments and sentences, despite being many more in number than the Trac data indicate, continue to trend down," Ms. Jardini said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

There is also a trend down-ticket toward candidates whose names make for bouncy rhymes: Heidi Heitkamp (the Democratic nominee in North Dakota, a former attorney general); Linda Lingle (the Republican nominee in Hawaii, a former governor) and Tommy G. Thompson (the motorcycle-riding former Republican governor of Wisconsin, familiar from his stint in George W. Bush's cabinet).

The New Yorker

Transcription factors attribute solely to one cluster i.e. cluster VII, which trend down-regulates slowly in entire flowering process.

BMC Genomics

Is that number trending up, trending down?

The New York Times

Unemployment is trending down, albeit not quickly enough.

The New Yorker

As in 2018, the volume of proxy access proposals is trending down due to corporate adoptions.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "trend down" to indicate a general direction rather than an absolute value. For specific numbers, use "decrease" or "fall".

Common error

Avoid implying causation when only describing a trend. Just because something is trending down doesn't mean a specific factor is causing it. Correlation does not equal causation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trend down" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating a decreasing tendency or a downward direction. It describes the behavior of a variable over time, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples, which show its use in contexts ranging from economic indicators to crime statistics.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "trend down" is a versatile and commonly used term to describe a general decrease or decline over time. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, including news, academia, and business. While "trend down" implies a downward direction, it's essential to avoid assuming causation without further evidence. For alternative phrases, consider "decrease", "decline", or "fall", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. When using "trend down", ensure you specify the timeframe and avoid implying direct causation without supporting evidence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decrease

This is a more general term for diminishing, suitable for most contexts where something is lessening.

decline

Similar to "decrease", but often implies a negative connotation or a loss of something valued.

fall

A simple and direct term indicating a downward movement or reduction.

drop

Suggests a sudden or sharp decrease.

diminish

Indicates a gradual reduction in size, importance, or intensity.

lessen

Similar to "diminish", implying a reduction in degree or extent.

descend

A more formal term for moving downward, often used in technical contexts.

plummet

Indicates a rapid and significant fall, often used for dramatic effect.

recede

Suggests a withdrawal or moving back, often used in the context of water or economic activity.

slump

Implies a sudden and significant decline, often used in economic contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "trend down" in a sentence?

You can use "trend down" to describe a general decline or decrease over time, such as "The unemployment rate is expected to trend down in the coming months".

What does it mean when something is "trending down"?

When something is "trending down", it means that its value or quantity is generally decreasing over a period of time. It indicates a downward direction but doesn't necessarily imply a continuous or uniform decline.

What are some alternatives to saying "trend down"?

You can use alternatives like "decrease", "decline", or "fall" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "trend downwards" instead of "trend down"?

While "trend downwards" is understandable, "trend down" is more commonly used and considered more concise and natural in most contexts. Both are grammatically acceptable, but "trend down" is generally preferred.