Grammar fix

a sharp decline

a sharp decline (steep fall)

a sudden and significant drop in the level, amount, or quality of something, often used for statistics, performance, or conditions.

collocationC1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

There was a sharp decline in smartphone sales last year after the new model failed to impress consumers.work
If you look at the graph, you can see a sharp decline in the number of people using public transport after 2020, which could be due to the pandemic.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: a sharp decline in [noun]

WrongThere was a sharp decline of sales.

RightThere was a sharp decline in sales.

'A decline IN' something, not 'of'.

Patterna sharp decline in [noun]

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff There was a sudden and large reduction in sales.

Natural There was a sharp decline in sales.

'A sharp decline in' is the standard data phrasing.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

a sharp decline in
in salesin numbersin qualitysteep

Don't confuse it

Unlike 'a gradual decline', which describes a slow decrease, 'a sharp decline' means the fall happens quickly and is quite noticeable. 'Sharp' is stronger and more precise than 'big' or 'sudden' in this collocation.

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