"decrease with age" vs "decrease by age"

Question

"decrease with age" vs "decrease by age"

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. 'Decrease with age' implies that something decreases as age increases, while 'decrease by age' suggests that age is the cause of the decrease. The choice between them depends on the intended meaning.

Last Updated: March 20, 2024

This phrase is used to indicate that something decreases as age increases. It implies a correlation between age and the decrease.

Examples:

Memory tends to decrease with age.
Flexibility in joints may decrease with age.
The ability to learn new things can decrease with age.

Alternatives:

decline with age
diminish with age
reduce with age
decrease as one gets older
decrease over time

This phrase can be used to indicate that age is the cause of the decrease. It suggests a direct relationship between age and the decrease.

Examples:

The risk of certain diseases may decrease by age.
The quality of the product may decrease by age.
The number of friends one has may decrease by age.

Alternatives:

decrease due to age
decrease as a result of age
decrease because of age
decrease with increasing age
decrease as one ages

Answer 1

decrease with age

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

decrease by age

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in English.

"decrease with age" vs "decrease by age"

decrease with age

decrease by age

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