trending upward

USAGE SUMMARY

"trending upward" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to describe an increasing trajectory, such as an increase in sales, productivity, or popularity. For example, "Sales of the new product have been trending upward since its introduction last month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 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

Private-sector employment has been trending upward, though not as fast as anyone would like.

The New Yorker

Land prices in East Harlem, as in all of Manhattan, have also been trending upward.

The New York Times

Spirit's problem, the watchdog group reported, is getting bigger, with the number of gripes "trending upward over time".

The Economist

Strikeout rates have been trending upward for most of the past century, but what has happened in recent years seems to indicate something more.

The New York Times - Sports

Flu shots among the Americans most at risk — pregnant women and young children — have been "trending upward slowly but steadily," Dr. Bresee added.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

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

The New York Times - Magazine

It fluctuated in the mid-1950s, trended upward through the late 1970s, and back down between the mid-1980s and 2000.

The New York Times - Health

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

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "trending upward" to describe quantifiable data or metrics that are showing a positive increase over a period of time. For example, "website traffic is trending upward since the marketing campaign launch".

Common error

Avoid assuming that because something is "trending upward", it's necessarily due to a specific action. Correlation doesn't equal causation. Investigate to confirm the driving forces.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trending upward" functions as a verbal phrase often acting as a predicate or part of a predicate. It describes the direction of a trend, indicating an increase or positive movement over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and widely used expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trending upward" is a grammatically correct and frequently used way to describe something that is increasing over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is widespread and appropriate in various contexts. Predominantly found in news, media, science, and business, this phrase serves to inform audiences about positive growth or progress. When using this phrase, avoid jumping to conclusions about causation and be mindful of the specific metrics you are describing. To add variety, consider alternative phrases such as "moving upwards" or "on the rise". Use "trending upward" to add clarity when describing that some metric is on a positive direction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moving upwards

Replaces "trending" with a more direct synonym and "upward" with its direct synonym.

on the rise

A more idiomatic expression for "increasing".

increasing gradually

Focuses on the gradual nature of the increase. It's a slight shift in emphasis.

showing an upward trajectory

More formal and emphasizes the path of the increase.

climbing steadily

Suggests a continuous and stable increase.

seeing positive growth

Highlights the outcome as positive growth.

gaining momentum

Emphasizes the increasing speed of the upward movement.

improving consistently

Focuses on the consistent improvement over time.

progressing positively

Highlights the positive nature of the progress.

developing favorably

Suggests a positive development or evolution.

FAQs

How to use "trending upward" in a sentence?

You can use "trending upward" to describe a metric that is increasing over time. For example: "The company's stock prices have been trending upward since the new CEO took over".

What can I say instead of "trending upward"?

You can use alternatives like "moving upwards", "on the rise", or "increasing gradually" depending on the context.

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

While "trend upward" can be grammatically correct in some contexts, "trending upward" is more commonly used to describe a continuous process or pattern of increase. "Trend upward" might be used to describe a one-time action or direction.

What's the difference between "trending upward" and "trending downwards"?

"Trending upward" indicates a positive increase or growth, while "trending downwards" indicates a negative decrease or decline. The direction of the trend is the key difference.