a significant negative effect

USAGE SUMMARY

"a significant negative effect" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a noticeable and potentially harmful outcome or consequence. For example, "The company's decision to reduce wages had a significant negative effect on employee morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

NH4NO3 has a significant negative effect.

Biochemical Engineering Journal

Trees generally had a significant negative effect on maize yield.

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

Bioenergy and food production had a significant negative effect on adult and fledgling skylarks.

Agricultural Systems

Heat waves had a significant negative effect on biovolume, whereas turbidity tended to affect biovolume positively.

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

Experimental shading had a significant negative effect on plant survival and flowering performance.

Biological Conservation

Captions were found to have a significant negative effect on learner performance.

Computers in Human Behavior

Food level only had a significant negative effect (***p<0.001) on R0.

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

We found a significant negative effect of forest land use on water costs.

Ecological Economics

In an extensive survey, economists Felipe Campante and David Yanagizawa-Drott show that Ramadan fasting has a significant negative effect on output growth in Muslim countries.

The Guardian - Business

This illustrates that the weakness in the UK's major trading partners, which is also looking more entrenched, is now having a significant negative effect on the UK economy.

The Guardian - Business

Sarah Brewer, a doctor and adviser to Atkins Nutritionals UK, says there is no scientific evidence that the Atkins diet has a significant negative effect on LDL cholesterol.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a significant negative effect", quantify the effect if possible to provide more context and impact. For example, instead of saying "the policy had a significant negative effect on sales", specify "the policy led to a 15% decrease in sales".

Common error

Avoid using "a significant negative effect" when the impact is minor or negligible. Overusing the term can diminish its impact and credibility. Reserve it for situations where the negative consequences are genuinely substantial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant negative effect" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object or subject complement in a sentence. Ludwig examples show it describing the impact of various factors, aligning with its role in indicating consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

23%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a significant negative effect" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression to denote a notably adverse outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Analysis of Ludwig's examples reveals its prevalent use in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure the described impact is genuinely substantial and consider quantifying the effect for added clarity. Avoid overuse to maintain its intended impact, and explore alternative phrases for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a substantial adverse impact

Replaces "significant negative effect" with synonyms while maintaining a formal tone.

a major detrimental consequence

Substitutes "significant" and "negative effect" with words implying severity and outcome.

a considerable damaging influence

Emphasizes the harmful aspect of the effect, using alternative adjectives.

a marked unfavorable outcome

Replaces "significant" with "marked" and uses "unfavorable outcome" for a more general term.

a noteworthy adverse result

Focuses on the observation of the effect, rather than its inherent negativity.

a serious decline

Describes the negative effect as a downturn or reduction in quality or quantity.

a strong impediment

Presents the negative effect as a barrier or obstruction to progress.

a palpable drawback

Highlights the noticeable and undesirable aspect of the effect.

a consequential downside

Emphasizes the important and negative aspects of a situation.

an important disadvantage

Replaces the more complex term "significant negative effect" with simpler language.

FAQs

How can I use "a significant negative effect" in a sentence?

Use "a significant negative effect" to describe a noticeably adverse outcome. For example, "The budget cuts had "a significant negative effect" on the quality of education."

What are some alternatives to "a significant negative effect"?

You can use alternatives like "a substantial adverse impact", "a major detrimental consequence", or "a considerable damaging influence" depending on the context and desired level of formality. Refer to the related phrases section for more alternatives.

Is it redundant to say "a very significant negative effect"?

While not grammatically incorrect, adding "very" to "a significant negative effect" can be redundant. The word "significant" already implies importance, so using it with "very" might not add much value. Consider rephrasing for better clarity.

What is the difference between "a significant negative effect" and "a minor negative effect"?

"A significant negative effect" implies a considerable and noteworthy adverse outcome, while "a minor negative effect" suggests the negative outcome is small and not particularly concerning. The choice depends on the magnitude of the impact being described.