a severe effect on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a severe effect on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the significant impact or influence something has on a particular subject or situation. Example: "The new policy will have a severe effect on employee morale and productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The economic downturn has had a severe effect on several of its industries, especially auto and construction.

Forbes

The bad weather has had a severe effect on Britain's travel networks in one of the year's busiest weekends for travel; many road and rail routes have been plunged into chaos.

Independent

Nevertheless, with the 1 kb promoter, mutation of only one of the sites had a severe effect on reporter gene expression and expression was not further reduced when both sites were mutated.

BMC Plant Biology

When inflation went up to 5.2% after the crash, that had a severe effect on people, he says.

The Guardian

"Industrial fishing of species is having a severe effect on numbers of this species and its capacity to recover.

The Guardian

Because cotton garments are labor intensive, the loss of sales has had a severe effect on employment.

The New York Times

But the global recession has had a severe effect on tax havens – even those close to home.

The Guardian - Business

The exposure of the accused on his stumps to inmates will have a severe effect on him".

BBC

Symptoms are mild and cold-like, but the virus can have a severe effect on pregnant women and their babies.

Independent

"I think it had a severe effect on the morale of workers that were already beleaguered," said Carol Rodat, president of the Home Care Association of New York State, which represents mostly nonprofit agencies.

The New York Times

A "wave of litigation" relating to actions taken by UK citizens and residents rendered to Guantánamo Bay is having a "severe effect on what counter-terrorism tools are available to the UK authorities".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a severe effect on", ensure that the severity is justified by the context. Provide specific details or examples to illustrate the extent of the impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a severe effect on" if the impact is only moderate. Overstating the severity can weaken your argument and reduce your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a severe effect on" functions as a noun phrase serving as the object of a verb, typically 'have' or 'has'. Ludwig examples show it describing consequences, influences, or impacts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a severe effect on" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe a significant and negative impact. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and examples show its prevalence across various domains, particularly Science and News & Media. While generally neutral to formal, it's best used when the severity of the effect warrants such strong wording. Consider alternatives like "a significant impact on" or "a profound influence on" if a less intense expression is more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a serious consequence to

Emphasizes the gravity of the consequence.

a significant impact on

Replaces "severe effect" with "significant impact", emphasizing the importance of the consequence.

a profound influence on

Substitutes "severe effect" with "profound influence", highlighting a deep and far-reaching impact.

a strong impact on

Substitutes "severe" with "strong" to describe the impact.

a devastating consequence for

Replaces the entire phrase to focus on the negative and destructive outcome.

a critical impact upon

Uses "critical impact" instead of "severe effect", stressing the importance of the impact.

a major repercussion for

Replaces "effect" with "repercussion", indicating a consequence or result of some action.

a marked deterioration in

Shifts focus to a decline or worsening condition as a result of something.

a substantial change to

Indicates a considerable alteration or modification due to some cause.

a negative outcome for

Broadly describes an unfavorable result or consequence.

FAQs

How can I use "a severe effect on" in a sentence?

Use "a severe effect on" to describe something that is deeply impacted by something else. For instance: "The budget cuts had "a severe effect on" the library's operating hours."

What can I say instead of "a severe effect on"?

You can use alternatives like "a significant impact on", "a profound influence on", or "a devastating consequence for" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "impact" or "effect" in the phrase "a severe impact/effect on"?

Both "impact" and "effect" are acceptable, but "effect" is more traditional and generally preferred in formal writing. "Impact" is often used to describe a forceful or sudden effect, while "effect" is more general.

What is the difference between "a severe effect on" and "a major effect on"?

"A severe effect on" indicates a more intense and detrimental consequence than "a major effect on". While both suggest a significant impact, "severe" implies a higher degree of negativity or disruption.