was steadily decreasing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was steadily decreasing' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe a situation where a number or amount is going down in a gradual manner. For example, "The number of students enrolled in the music program was steadily decreasing over the past few years."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Xie Zhenhua, a vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, said the country was steadily decreasing its energy use, but still not meeting the target of annual 4percentt reductions.

The New York Times

The share of Leave tweets was 49.6% on June 19, and was steadily decreasing until the referendum day (June 23), when 28.5% of tweets supported Leave, and 22.4% were in favor of Remain.

Computational Social Networks

SOCS-1, the suppressor of cytokine signaling gene playing a critical role in the negative regulation of cytokine signaling was steadily decreasing after initial elevation.

Plosone

Then density was steadily decreasing and cell shape rounding.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The number of admissions for landmine injury was steadily decreasing between July 1998 and July 2001, followed by prominent increase between July 2002 and July 2003.

Conflict and Health

The number of admissions for landmine injuries was steadily decreasing between July 1998 and July 2001, followed by a transient increase between July 2002 and July 2003.

Conflict and Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Fecal coliform was steadily decreased from 39 ± 8 cfu/100 ml at station 5 to 26 ± 0 cfu/100 ml at station 3 in the sub-surface water column.

Applied Water Science

Farc, the western hemisphere's oldest and strongest rebel army, had been steadily decreasing its attacks on government forces.

The Guardian

Crime rates across the country are steadily decreasing as firearms ownership soars to record levels.

The New York Times

Petroleum production peaked in the 1990s and has been steadily decreasing since then.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Whilst live music and merchandise sales are booming, physical sales are steadily decreasing with more and more fans simply burning tracks from friends or free download sites.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was steadily decreasing", ensure the context clearly indicates the period over which the decrease occurred. This provides a clearer understanding of the trend.

Common error

Avoid using "was steadily decreasing" to describe situations where the decline is sudden or abrupt. "Steadily" implies a gradual change, not an immediate one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was steadily decreasing" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a past continuous tense construction. According to Ludwig, it accurately describes an ongoing action of reduction or decline in the past. The auxiliary verb "was" indicates the past tense, while "steadily decreasing" describes the nature of the action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

43%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was steadily decreasing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for describing a gradual reduction over time. Ludwig AI confirms its accuracy and suitability across various contexts, particularly in science, news, and academia. While alternatives exist, the key is to ensure the chosen phrase accurately reflects the intended meaning and pace of the decline. Remember to use it to describe a past trend and avoid using it in contexts with sudden drops. The phrase's neutral register makes it appropriate for diverse writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was gradually diminishing

Replaces "steadily" with "gradually" and "decreasing" with "diminishing", maintaining the sense of slow reduction.

was consistently declining

Substitutes "steadily decreasing" with "consistently declining", emphasizing the continuous nature of the reduction.

saw a steady reduction

Changes the structure to emphasize the observation of a reduction rather than the act of decreasing itself.

exhibited a gradual decrease

Uses more formal vocabulary to express the same concept of a slow decline.

showed a constant downturn

Replaces "decreasing" with "downturn" to focus on the negative trend.

experienced a progressive fall

Uses "progressive" to highlight the ongoing nature of the fall.

underwent a continuous decline

Employs "underwent" to indicate that something is experiencing the decline, adding a layer of passive voice.

diminished at a steady rate

Shifts the focus to the rate of diminishment.

declined incrementally

Highlights the incremental nature of the decline, suggesting small steps.

contracted continuously

Replaces "decreasing" with "contracted" which is suitable when talking about a physical object or economy.

FAQs

How can I use "was steadily decreasing" in a sentence?

Use "was steadily decreasing" to describe a gradual reduction over time. For instance, "The number of reported cases of the disease "was steadily decreasing" after the vaccination program began".

What are some alternatives to "was steadily decreasing"?

You can use phrases such as "was gradually diminishing", "was consistently declining", or "saw a steady reduction" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is steadily decreasing" instead of "was steadily decreasing"?

The choice between "is" and "was" depends on the tense. Use "is steadily decreasing" for ongoing trends and "was steadily decreasing" for trends that occurred in the past.

What's the difference between "was steadily decreasing" and "was rapidly decreasing"?

"Was steadily decreasing" implies a gradual decline, while "was rapidly decreasing" suggests a fast or abrupt reduction. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the pace of the decrease.