year-on-year increase

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "year-on-year increase" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in financial or economic contexts to compare data from one year to the same period in the previous year, indicating growth or change over time. Example: "The company reported a year-on-year increase in revenue of 15% for the last quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

The year-on-year increase edged up to 0.8%.

The Economist

This represents a 1.94% year-on-year increase.

The Guardian

This was a 3.2% year-on-year increase.

The Guardian

This was a 64.54% year-on-year increase.

The Guardian

This represented a 29.32% year-on-year increase.

The Guardian

This represented a 46% year-on-year increase.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Benzodiazepine anxiolytics were one of the few medicines not to show a year on year increase over this time.

BMJ Open

The year on year increase in the CPI was 2%.

The Guardian - Business

The 19% year on year increase in people reliant on charity food to get by was not news, it seemed.

The Guardian

This suggests the increase following the campaign launch was over and above a small year on year increase in presentations (see also Supplementary Figure S1).

British Journal of Cancer

Big changes to video-on-demand service 4oD delivered a 60% year-on-year increase in full-length programme views.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "year-on-year increase", ensure you're comparing the same period (e.g., quarter, month) across two consecutive years to maintain accuracy and relevance.

Common error

Avoid misinterpreting "year-on-year increase" as cumulative growth over multiple years. It strictly refers to the change between one year and the immediately preceding year.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "year-on-year increase" functions as a descriptor, typically modifying nouns like 'growth', 'sales', or 'revenue'. It specifies that the increase is being measured against the corresponding period of the previous year. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "year-on-year increase" is a common and grammatically sound term used to describe growth or change when compared to the same period of the previous year. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its widespread use across various contexts, primarily in news, business, and scientific reporting. To ensure accurate interpretation, remember that it strictly refers to the difference between one year and the preceding one, distinct from cumulative growth. Alternatives such as "annual growth" or "year-over-year growth" can be used depending on the specific context, while avoiding the common mistake of confusing it with cumulative growth over multiple years.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Year-over-year growth

A variation that emphasizes the 'year-over-year' comparison, commonly used in business contexts.

Annual growth

Focuses on the growth aspect over a year without explicitly mentioning the comparison to the previous year.

Yearly increase

A more straightforward and less formal alternative, simply stating an increase on a yearly basis.

Annual rise

Similar to 'yearly increase' but uses 'rise' instead of 'increase'.

Increase from the prior year

Uses 'prior year' instead of 'last year' to indicate a comparison with the year immediately before.

Annual percentage increase

Highlights the percentage of increase over the year, adding a level of precision.

Growth compared to last year

Explicitly states the comparison being made, making it clear for a broader audience.

Previous year's growth

Focuses on the growth achieved compared to the previous year.

Annualized growth

Relates the growth to an annual rate, often used when considering shorter timeframes.

From previous year

Shorthand for comparison versus last year.

FAQs

How to use "year-on-year increase" in a sentence?

You can use "year-on-year increase" to describe growth or change between one year and the previous one. For example, "The company reported a 20% "year-on-year increase" in sales."

What can I say instead of "year-on-year increase"?

You can use alternatives like "annual growth", "yearly increase", or "year-over-year growth" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "year-on-year decrease"?

Yes, it is correct. While the term "year-on-year increase" indicates growth, "year-on-year decrease" indicates a decline or reduction compared to the previous year.

What is the difference between "year-on-year" and "month-on-month"?

"Year-on-year" compares data from one year to the same period in the previous year, while "month-on-month" compares data from one month to the previous month. They measure trends over different timeframes.