a decreasing number vs an increasing number

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'A decreasing number' is used when referring to a number that is getting smaller, while 'an increasing number' is used when referring to a number that is getting larger.

Last updated: March 22, 2024 • 874 views

a decreasing number

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used when referring to a number that is getting smaller or decreasing.

Examples:

A decreasing number of students are attending the school.
We have seen a decreasing number of cases in the past week.
The company reported a decreasing number of sales this quarter.

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These changes have resulted in a decreasing number of consumers being protected when going on holiday.
Last week the Finnish Presidency admitted, inter alia, that practical experience has shown that problems with current decision-making at EU level are leading to a decreasing number of police cooperation initiatives.
According to this association of large employers, it will no longer be possible to finance the first pillar of the pensions system, which involves redistribution, as there is an increasing number of recipients and a decreasing number of contributors.
It will, without doubt, be a matter for our concern that there may be a decreasing number of small and medium-sized banks and financial institutions available with which the European Investment Bank can manage the flow of its funds.
The constantly decreasing number of people in work has resulted in drastic cutbacks in social security systems.
The steadily decreasing number of bidders in public tenders confirms this.
We are concerned at the growing concentration of media ownership among an ever-decreasing number of companies.
In Ireland decreasing numbers of young people are choosing science as a career option - a trend that is repeated across Europe.
This could help to reverse the trend of the decreasing number of consumers being protected when going on holiday.
Transport is also a sector which is particularly vulnerable in terms of security of supply, dependant on one commodity, oil, from decreasing number of sources.
The resolution says MEPs are "extremely worried" about the decreasing number of journalists accredited to the European Union Institutions like the Commission, Council and the Parliament.
All of us - Parliament, the decreasing number of farmers and also consumers - expect the proper application of EU legislation with inspections to that effect.
To a large extent, it is a vicious circle because as we increase and improve our technology, we require an ever decreasing number in the workforce.
As far as the automotive industry is concerned, it is an industry that has become increasingly globalised and that consists of an ever decreasing number of companies.
At a European level, this sector is facing countless challenges and problems, particularly marketing issues, price volatility, difficulties in recruiting young beekeepers to the sector, decreasing numbers of bee colonies and an increase in mortality.
At the same time, however, we know that the decreasing number of contributors, the increase in expenditure on public health systems and the tightening of budgets in response to the convergence criteria are difficult to reconcile.
That is why the growing number of reports on the decreasing number of bee colonies is very regrettable and requires urgent is particularly the case for the agricultural sector, because it is extremely dependent on the useful work of bees.
whereas European Union measures in this area are completely inadequate, and no longer have budgetary priority, as shown by the decreasing number of projects funded (10 in 1999 and two in 2002),
Mr President, as the President of the Estonian Ski Association, I agree with the concern mentioned in the report on the decreasing number of hours in both primary and secondary education for physical education.
whereas European Union measures in this area are completely inadequate, and whereas they no longer have budgetary priority, as shown by the decreasing number of projects funded (10 in 1999 and two in 2002),

Alternatives:

a diminishing number
a declining number
a reducing number
a falling number
a dropping number

an increasing number

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used when referring to a number that is getting larger or increasing.

Examples:

An increasing number of people are choosing to work from home.
We have observed an increasing number of visitors to the museum.
The city has seen an increasing number of new businesses opening up.

Show examples from the web [+]

Indicators are also required for the monitoring and evaluation of policies in an increasing number of domains.
But an increasing number of young people are...
Reaching an agreement about the revision of this Directive is urgent, as an increasing number of Member States contemplates implementing tolling and/or road charging.
As a result, an increasing number of products bearing the CE marking do not in fact comply with the relevant legislation.
It is not for nothing that an increasing number of companies have decided to carry out their practical research and development in the United States.
With an increasing number of old people in Europe, developing elderly-friendly technologies can improve their quality of life and help them to live independently for longer.
The decentralised bodies are taking on an increasing number of the Commission's specialised, scientific and/or technical and administrative tasks.
Every year an increasing number of pets are abandoned by their owners.
Since then the survey has been periodically repeated in an increasing number of countries.
There are going to be an increasing number of ships to be dismantled.
We must therefore envisage an increasing number of immigrants working in these fields.
Practically all communications are quickly becoming digital and there is an increasing number of infrastructures competing to carry services.
Both international and local human rights organisations, unfortunately, report an increasing number of cases of concern.
Relations between the European Union and Russia cover an increasing number of areas.
That has for some years given rise to an increasing number of requests.
As the responses to the Green Paper illustrated, an increasing number of actors beyond the SME community are interested in entrepreneurship.
Currently there is an increasing number of cases where cards are counterfeited and the PIN code is captured using electronic devices.
There is an increasing number of foods labelled and advertised in the Community with nutrition and health claims.
On the investor side, an increasing number of financial institutions have backed the principles.
I am receiving an increasing number of reports that the decline in Europe's bee population is becoming ever more serious.

Alternatives:

a growing number
a rising number
an expanding number
a mounting number
a swelling number

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a decreasing number vs an increasing number