LoginDecrease vs. Decline
These verbs are synonymous but have a subtle difference in their connotation and form different grammatical structures which we are going to discuss here.
Both 'decline' and 'decrease' are concerned with becoming smaller or lessening. However, while 'decrease' is mostly used when referring to quantity and size, 'decline' is typically used when talking about quality and value. This lesson will explore the differences between these two verbs.
Difference in Connotation
'Decrease' is a more general and neutral term used to describe an objective reduction in size, number, or intensity. It can be used in various contexts, such as describing a decrease in temperature, population, or sales figures. 'Decline', on the other hand, is often associated with negative connotations and refers to a more subjective reduction, typically suggesting a deterioration in quantity, quality, value, or importance, such as deterioration of health, economic conditions, or the popularity of something. Here are some examples:
The temperature is expected to
The temperature is expected to
Using 'decline' would imply that the reduction is undesirable and negative.
We need to
The health of the patient started to
The popularity of traditional newspapers has
Grammatical Difference
'Decrease' is an ergative verb that can be used intransitively to mean to become less, or transitively to mean to make something become less. 'Decline' however, is always intransitive and only means to become less or worse. Take a look at some examples:
The quality of the product has
The production costs have
'Decrease' as an intransitive verb
The company implemented cost-cutting measures to
'Decrease' as a transitive verb
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