a negative feature

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a negative feature" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an undesirable characteristic or aspect of something, such as a product, service, or situation. Example: "One negative feature of the new software is its slow loading time, which can hinder productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Although one could justifiably argue that many IT firms are profitable enough to absorb a heavier tax burden particularly given the need for India to widen its tax base overall we regard this as a negative feature of the budget.

The Economist

What has changed? A. Historically, good will could be amortized over a period of up to 40 years, and that was a negative feature of purchase accounting, because a company that paid a large premium for another company would be saddled with large amounts of good will.

The New York Times

"It's a negative feature of the partnership strategy, that's true," he says.

Forbes

Apparently, real kinds include only members with some positive feature in common, while other parts allow members sharing only a negative feature.

SEP

For example, the interaction of a positive feature and a negative feature induces a wall thickness change that might cause defects in a part.

Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing

The Stranger stops him, objecting that such a division is like dividing the human race into Greek and barbarian: barbarian is not a proper kind because its members share only a negative feature, being non-Greek speakers.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

The spectrum showed a strong CD signal with a positive band at 193 nm and a broad negative feature between 208 and 240 nm with two minima near 208 and 222 nm, which is characteristic of a protein with a large fraction of α-helices.

Biochemistry

A potentially negative feature of the HS algorithm evaluated is that it requires a large number of iterations to achieve an acceptable "optimum" value for the objective function; however, each iteration can be conducted with relatively short computational time.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

A possible negative feature would be reactogenicity in children.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Moreover, there is a new negative feature at about 1708 cm−1, which likely corresponds to loss of signal from the carbonyl stretch of the C17 COOH group.[ 23] As the "catalytic" pathway does not occur in the Y193F variant it suggests that the Tyr residue is involved in formation of the "reactive" excited-state species.

Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

In pure CdSe(BUT) films, the PIA manifests itself as a broad flat negative feature at times larger than 500 ps.

ACS Nano

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a negative feature", be specific about what makes the feature negative. Providing context helps the reader understand the issue clearly.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something is "a negative feature" without explaining why. This lacks impact and doesn't provide useful information to the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a negative feature" functions as a noun phrase, where "negative" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "feature". Ludwig's examples show its use in identifying undesirable aspects of various subjects.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a negative feature" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to point out an undesirable aspect of something. However, its frequency is rare, suggesting that more specific or impactful alternatives might often be preferred. According to Ludwig, the phrase is used across a mix of contexts like news, science, and business. When employing this phrase, it's best to be explicit about why the feature is considered negative to provide clarity and strengthen your argument.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a disadvantageous feature

Emphasizes the hindering or unfavorable aspect of the feature.

a detrimental aspect

Highlights the harmful or damaging quality of the aspect.

a drawback

A concise term for a limitation or deficiency.

a downside

Focuses on the less appealing or problematic part.

a limitation

Points out the restrictive or boundary-setting nature of the feature.

an imperfection

Underscores the flaw or defect present.

a weakness

Highlights the area of vulnerability or lack of strength.

a flaw

Emphasizes a significant defect or fault.

a deficiency

Indicates a lack or shortage of something essential.

an undesirable attribute

A more formal way to express an unwanted characteristic.

FAQs

What does "a negative feature" mean?

The phrase "a negative feature" refers to an aspect or characteristic of something that is undesirable, problematic, or detrimental. It indicates a drawback or flaw.

How can I use "a negative feature" in a sentence?

You can use it to point out a disadvantage of something, such as "One "downside" of this phone is its poor battery life, which is a negative feature."

What are some alternatives to "a negative feature"?

Alternatives include "a "drawback"", "a "disadvantage"", "a "limitation"", or "a "flaw"", depending on the specific context.

Is it always appropriate to use "a negative feature" in formal writing?

While "a negative feature" is generally acceptable, consider using more precise or formal alternatives like "a detrimental aspect" or "an undesirable attribute" for greater impact in professional or academic contexts.