"an increase of" vs "an increase in"

Question

"an increase of" vs "an increase in"

Both "an increase of" and "an increase in" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "An increase of" is typically followed by a specific amount or percentage, while "an increase in" is followed by the thing that is increasing. Therefore, they are not directly comparable as they serve different purposes.

Last Updated: March 24, 2024

Use "an increase of" when you want to specify the amount or percentage by which something has increased.

Examples:

There was an increase of 20% in sales last month.
We observed an increase of 5 degrees in temperature.
An increase of $100 in the budget was approved.
The report showed an increase of 50 points in customer satisfaction.
The company experienced an increase of 200 employees this year.

Alternatives:

a rise of
a growth of
an uptick of
an escalation of
an augmentation of

Use "an increase in" when you want to specify what is increasing, such as a quantity, value, or number.

Examples:

There was an increase in sales last month.
We observed an increase in temperature.
An increase in the budget was approved.
The report showed an increase in customer satisfaction.
The company experienced an increase in employees this year.

Alternatives:

a rise in
a growth in
an uptick in
an escalation in
an augmentation in

Answer 1

an increase of

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when followed by a specific amount or percentage.

Answer 2

an increase in

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when followed by the thing that is increasing.

"an increase of" vs "an increase in"

an increase of

an increase in

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