worsening gradually

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worsening gradually" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that is deteriorating over time, often implying a slow and steady decline. Example: "The patient's health has been worsening gradually over the past few weeks, prompting the doctor to adjust the treatment plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A 44 year-old renal transplant Guinean patient was admitted in September 2008 for fever, weight loss and non-productive cough worsening gradually for one month.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In many patients with RRMS, symptoms may worsen gradually during subsequent recurrences and eventually may no longer disappear during remissions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nevertheless, his status worsened gradually.

Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics

From these ages onwards, their HRQL scores worsen gradually [ 29].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

It worsens gradually after healing of the fracture due to continued loading of the wrist.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

However, symptoms usually worsen gradually, giving time to make contingency plans.

BMC Palliative Care

However, his renal functions worsened gradually and the serum creatinine had increased to 8 mg/dL over a period of 3 months.

CKJ: Clinical Kidney Journal

Age-adjusted levels of the major CVD risk factors worsened gradually across IGR categories (NFG < IFG/NGT < IFG/IGT < DM), particularly HDL-cholesterol and blood pressure (p for trend < 0.001).

Cardiovascular Diabetology

Postural alignment worsens gradually over the course of aging. 1 This poor postural alignment, which manifests as spinal kyphosis, can result in irreversible degeneration of the intervertebral disks and ligaments.

Clinical interventions in aging

Conditions such as bronchitis are usually long term and worsens gradually over weeks to months.

WikiHow

(ii) Our algorithm also works for the range between 2Nd and 2N/logN (where the bound becomes O(N)), but the gap between the upper and lower bounds worsens gradually.

Theoretical Computer Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "worsening gradually", ensure the context provides a clear understanding of what is declining and over what timeframe. This phrase works best when the slow, steady decline is a key aspect of the information being conveyed.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "worsening gradually" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "getting worse" or "going downhill" in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worsening gradually" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to describe how something is deteriorating. As noted by Ludwig, this suggests a slow and continuous decline over time.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "worsening gradually" is a phrase used to describe a slow and continuous decline. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct but relatively rare, suggesting a more formal or technical usage. While it effectively communicates a steady decline, simpler alternatives might be preferable in informal contexts. As Ludwig AI points out, while the phrase is correct, it's important to be aware of its formality and choose simpler words when the context is casual.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

steadily deteriorating

Emphasizes the consistent and unwavering nature of the decline.

progressively declining

Highlights the step-by-step or stage-by-stage aspect of the worsening.

slowly degrading

Focuses on the gradual reduction in quality or condition.

bit by bit declining

Focuses on a slow, step-by-step regression.

inching toward decline

Suggests a very slow, almost imperceptible movement towards a worse state.

deteriorating over time

Highlights the effect of time on the process of becoming worse.

declining incrementally

Stresses the small, measurable steps in the process of worsening.

gradual degradation

Shifts the focus to the process of degradation itself, rather than the worsening.

on a slow downward slope

Uses a metaphor to describe the process of deterioration.

sliding into decline

Suggests a passive movement into a worse state, often without control.

FAQs

How can I use "worsening gradually" in a sentence?

Use "worsening gradually" to describe a slow and steady decline. For example, "The patient's condition has been "worsening gradually" over the past few weeks."

What are some alternatives to "worsening gradually"?

Consider alternatives such as "steadily deteriorating", "progressively declining", or "slowly degrading" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "worsening gradually" or "getting worse gradually"?

"Worsening gradually" is more formal and often used in technical or medical contexts, while "getting worse gradually" is more common in everyday speech.

What does "worsening gradually" imply about the rate of change?

The phrase "worsening gradually" implies a slow and steady decline, rather than a sudden or rapid deterioration. It suggests that the negative change is happening incrementally over time.