Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
a negative examination
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "a negative examination" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where the results of an examination or assessment indicate the absence of a condition or issue, often in medical or evaluative settings. Example: "The doctor informed me that the results of my tests came back as a negative examination, meaning there were no signs of illness."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
Alternative expressions(2)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
10 human-written examples
The memoir as a negative examination of the self, a form in which to showcase our reasons to be, as John Calvin put it, "displeased with ourselves," indelibly marked the Anglophone tradition thereafter….
News & Media
Umberto Agnelli, the president of IFIL, the holding company through which the Agnelli family controls Fiat, said at a shareholders meeting today that Fiat was seeking the help of the banks to avoid a "negative examination by the rating agencies".
News & Media
The memoir as a negative examination of the self, a form in which to showcase our reasons to be, in John Calvin's words, "displeased with ourselves," indelibly marked the Anglophone autobiographical tradition thereafter — as did a resultant vaingloriousness about the extent of one's waywardness.
News & Media
Some patients with a negative examination at 3 to 6 months have a subsequent "late" recurrence.
Science
Our results show that concordance for a negative examination was excellent.
Science
True negative (TN) is defined as no known tissue diagnosis of cancer within 1 year after a negative examination.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
50 human-written examples
In short, to be eligible for SweDCIS, women had to have undergone breast-conserving surgery for histologically proven DCIS occupying a quadrant or less of the breast and with a clinically negative examination of the axilla.
Science
The lack of sensitivity of the plain chest radiograph means that a single negative examination should not be relied on to exclude lung cancer.
Science
Results: Electromyography diagnosed 18 patients with a radiculopathy; 21 had a normal or negative examination.
In a case of unilateral adnectomy, a biopsy with histologically negative examination of the contralateral ovary cannot guarantee the detection of possible tumour infiltration and can induce additional damage of the ovarian tissue, so that such an operative procedure seems to be dispensable in many cases.
Science
Interval cancers are defined as tumours diagnosed after a negative screening examination but before the next scheduled screening examination.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When describing medical results, clarify the scope of the "negative examination". Specify what condition or issue the examination was intended to detect to avoid ambiguity.
Common error
Avoid using "a negative examination" without context. For instance, instead of saying "the examination was negative", specify "the blood test came back as "negative for" the virus" for clarity.
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "a negative examination" functions primarily as a descriptive term, typically used in medical or evaluative contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies that an examination or test did not reveal the presence of a particular condition or issue.
Frequent in
Science
70%
News & Media
20%
Formal & Business
10%
Less common in
Wiki
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "a negative examination" is a phrase used to describe an examination or test where the expected or suspected condition was not found. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and primarily appears in scientific and medical contexts. Though the term itself is correct, it should be used with precision to avoid ambiguity, especially when referring to medical tests. Related phrases include "an unfavorable assessment" or "an inconclusive test", which can be used depending on the specific context. While grammatically sound, clarifying the specific focus of the examination will increase the clarity of the statement.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
an unfavorable assessment
Replaces "examination" with a more general term for evaluation and uses "unfavorable" instead of "negative".
an inconclusive test
Focuses on the lack of definitive results from a test, similar to a negative examination.
a clear examination
This alternative describes an examination that shows no anomalies or issues, similar to a negative result.
normal examination results
Specifies that the examination yielded results within the expected range, implying the absence of problems.
a clean bill of health
Idiomatic expression indicating the absence of any health issues, akin to a negative medical examination.
a failed inspection
Indicates that an inspection process turned out to be not up to standards.
an unsatisfactory investigation
Similar to "a negative examination", but applied to investigations or inquiries.
a disconfirming evaluation
This means that the evaluation results deny or contradict the prior belief or expectation.
a poor review
Similar to "a negative examination", but used in review contexts.
an adverse checkup
Indicates the results of a checkup were not satisfactory.
FAQs
How can I use "a negative examination" in a sentence?
You can use "a negative examination" to describe the absence of an expected finding. For example, "After the biopsy, the patient received "a negative examination", indicating no presence of cancerous cells."
What does "a negative examination" mean in a medical context?
In medicine, "a negative examination" typically means that tests or screenings did not detect the specific condition or disease being investigated. It's important to confirm what the examination was testing for to fully understand the result.
What's the difference between "a negative examination" and "a normal examination"?
While similar, "a negative examination" specifically implies the absence of a suspected issue. "A normal examination" is a broader term indicating that all findings were within expected ranges and could be preferred when there isn't a suspected issue.
What are some alternative phrases for ""a negative examination""?
Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "unremarkable findings", "normal results", or "no evidence of disease". The best choice depends on the specific situation.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested