trend upward

USAGE SUMMARY

"trend upward" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is increasing in value or amount over time. For example, "Sales have been trending upward since the introduction of our new product line."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"A trend upward," he said.

The New York Times

This continued a marked trend upward in unwed births since 2002.

The New York Times - Health

But the trend upward has resumed — since Newtown, their aggregate market capitalization has increased by 7percentnt.

The New Yorker

In his more pessimistic moods, West seems to agree: he knows that nothing can trend upward forever.

The New York Times - Magazine

"The unemployment rate continues to trend upward and, at this point, the increase is significant," Mr. Brown said.

The New York Times

"We are definitely starting to see a trend upward — there's still a lot of ground to regain," he said.

The New York Times

Japan has not meddled in currency markets since 2004, but the recent trend upward had prompted speculation that an intervention might be imminent.

The New York Times

That message was that existing-home prices have shown virtually no tendency to trend upward in real, inflation-corrected terms over the last century.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

"And cases are trending upward".

The New York Times - Health

Clearly, the Jets are trending upward.

The New York Times

Within a couple of years it was trending upward again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "trend upward", ensure that you have data or evidence to support the claim of an increasing trend over time. Specify the period and the metric that is increasing for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid mistaking temporary spikes or fluctuations for a genuine, sustained "trend upward". Ensure you analyze data over a sufficiently long period to confirm a real upward trajectory.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trend upward" functions as a verb phrase indicating a pattern of increase or growth over a period. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It is commonly used to describe data or metrics that are generally increasing in value.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "trend upward" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase that describes a general pattern of increase over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, its versatility makes it suitable for diverse contexts, primarily appearing in News & Media and Scientific articles. When employing this phrase, remember to ensure your data supports the claim of a sustained increase and avoid mistaking short-term fluctuations for a genuine trend. Alternatives such as "rise steadily" or "increase progressively" can be used depending on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rise steadily

Emphasizes a consistent increase without specifying direction.

show an upward tendency

Highlights a predisposition towards increase.

increase progressively

Focuses on gradual augmentation.

move higher

A simple and direct way to express upward movement.

climb incrementally

Implies a slow, step-by-step increase.

ascend gradually

Suggests a measured and controlled ascent.

develop positively

Focuses on the favorable nature of the change.

improve over time

Highlights progress rather than directional movement.

see growth

Simply indicates an increase in size or amount.

pick up steam

Implies acceleration of progress or increase.

FAQs

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

You can use "trend upward" to describe a general increase over time, such as "The company's profits "trend upward" each quarter" or "The number of users is expected to "trend upward" in the coming months".

What are some alternatives to saying "trend upward"?

Instead of "trend upward", you could use phrases like "rise steadily", "increase progressively", or "improve over time" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "trending upward" instead of "trend upward"?

Yes, "trending upward" is a common and grammatically correct alternative to "trend upward". "Trending upward" implies an ongoing process, while "trend upward" describes a more general tendency.

What's the difference between "trend upward" and simply "increase"?

"Increase" refers to a single instance of growth, while ""trend upward"" suggests a consistent pattern of growth over a period of time. A ""trend upward"" implies more than one instance of increase.