TinyProf's Grammar Guide 🎓

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1. What We're Solving

We need to understand why we use "in" with words like increase/decrease sometimes, and "of" other times — and figure out what to do when a trend is both general AND measurable.

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2. The Approach

Prepositions carry meaning. Understanding what "in" and "of" signal to a reader makes the choice logical rather than arbitrary.

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3. Step-by-Step Breakdown

Step 1: Understand what "in" signals 🔍

When you write "increase in something", you're pointing inside a specific, measurable domain.

Think of "in" as a spotlight — it zooms into a particular field and measures what changed within it.

> ✅ "a sudden increase in unemployment" > ✅ "a sharp decrease in temperature" > ✅ "a fall in profits"

Ask yourself: Could I attach a number here?

• "a 5% increase in unemployment" — YES, perfectly natural
• This confirms you're measuring something concrete and quantifiable

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Step 2: Understand what "of" signals 🌊

When you write "rise of something", you're describing the emergence, growth, or development of a phenomenon as a whole concept.

Think of "of" as a wide-angle lens — it captures something sweeping and historical.

> ✅ "the rise of trade unionism" > ✅ "the decline of the Roman Empire" > ✅ "the fall of communism"

Ask yourself: Is this about an idea, movement, or era taking shape over time — rather than a quantity shifting?

• These feel narrative and conceptual, not numerical
• You wouldn't naturally say "a 12% rise of trade unionism" — it sounds awkward!

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Step 3: Can a trend be BOTH? 🤔

A general trend can also be measurable. Think about:

> "the rise of smartphone usage over the past decade"

This describes both:

• A broad societal trend (rise of a phenomenon) ← "of" territory
• Something potentially quantifiable (we could measure users) ← "in" territory

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Step 4: The deciding factor — Your FOCUS and FRAMING 🎯

Ask yourself: What am I emphasizing in this sentence?

| If you want to emphasize... | Use... | Example | |---|---|---| | The scale/amount of change | "in" | "a dramatic increase in smartphone usage" | | The phenomenon itself emerging | "of" | "the rise of smartphone culture" |

Notice something subtle there:

• "smartphone usage" → measurable behavior → "in" feels right
• "smartphone culture" → broader concept → "of" feels right

The noun choice after the preposition often guides you too!

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Step 5: A quick test you can apply ✅

When you're unsure, try two questions:

• 1. Can I insert a specific number naturally?

- "a 30% increase in ___" → If YES → use "in"

• 2. Am I describing something emerging/developing as a concept in history/society?

- "the rise of ___ as a force in society" → If YES → use "of"

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4. The Answer

> ✨ Yes, a general trend CAN be measurable — and in those cases, your intended emphasis decides the preposition. > > - Choose "in" when foregrounding the measurable shift within a domain > - Choose "of" when foregrounding the emergence or development of a concept > > Both can be correct — they just tell slightly different stories! 📖

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5. Memory Tip 🧠

> "IN = INside a quantity" → you're measuring within something > "OF = Origin of a phenomenon" → you're describing something coming into being

Think of it this way:

• "in" → How much did it change?
• "of" → How did it come to exist?