trends upward

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trends upward" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, data, or a phenomenon that is increasing or improving over time. Example: "The company's profits have consistently trended upward over the past three years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

He notes that male part-time education still trends upward, arguably because of competing opportunities in the information economy.

Forbes

Even when the wealth total trends upward, individual fortunes are decimated by time, technology and changing fashions.

Forbes

Over the long term, moreover, the P/E ratio trends upward by around 1.8% a year, in line with long-term productivity growth.

Forbes

Here is a possible three-step technique for attempting to buy the December low, hold the position into January and maintain it as long as the market trends upward.

Forbes

Hopefully then, as the stock market trends upward over the decades, so does your savings.

Vice

Facility use trends upward over time even after inclusion of controls.

Health Policy and Planning

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"A trend upward," he said.

The New York Times

"And cases are trending upward".

The New York Times - Health

Clearly, the Jets are trending upward.

The New York Times

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

The New York Times - Health

Within a couple of years it was trending upward again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing data, use "trends upward" to succinctly convey that values are increasing over time. This phrase is most effective when presenting factual information in reports or analyses.

Common error

Avoid assuming that because something "trends upward", it's directly caused by another factor. Always consider other potential variables that might influence the upward trend.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trends upward" functions as an intransitive verb phrase. It describes the action of something increasing or moving in an upward direction over a period. Ludwig AI confirms that it is used to describe increasing trends.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trends upward" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for describing an increasing trend, as confirmed by Ludwig. While "trends upward" is not overly common, with limited examples, it's found in neutral and professional contexts. It is best used to objectively report on observable increases over time. Alternative phrasings include "increasing trend", "moving upward", and "on the rise". Be careful to avoid implying causation simply because something "trends upward".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increasing trend

Focuses on the noun "trend" as the key element that increases, not on the action.

moving upward

Emphasizes the movement aspect of the trend, using a more literal description of direction.

exhibiting an upward trend

More formal and highlights the presence of a trend rather than its continuous action.

rising steadily

Highlights the stability and continuous manner of the upward movement.

on the rise

Idiomatic expression that is very common for indicating an increase.

showing an increase

Directly states that there is an increase, avoiding the term trend.

gaining momentum

Focuses on the increasing speed of the rise, rather than just the direction.

improving steadily

Implies positive change in addition to upward movement.

climbing gradually

Similar to rising, but puts emphasis on a slower, more controlled ascent.

escalating consistently

Suggests a potentially rapid and persistent increase.

FAQs

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

You can use "trends upward" to describe data or phenomena that are increasing over time. For example, "The company's profits have consistently trended upward this quarter".

What are some alternatives to "trends upward"?

Some alternatives include "increasing trend", "moving upward", or "on the rise" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "trend upwards" instead of "trends upward"?

"Trends upward" is generally preferred. While "trend upwards" isn't incorrect, it's less common and can sound slightly less formal or polished.

What does it mean when data is described as "trending upward"?

When data is described as "trending upward", it means that the values are generally increasing over time, indicating a positive direction or growth.