a terrible impact

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a terrible impact" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant negative effect or consequence of an event or action. Example: "The hurricane had a terrible impact on the local community, leaving many families homeless."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

It can have a terrible impact on box office, careers and states of mind.

The New York Times

Bullying has a terrible impact on the lives of young people.

Independent

Kanyembo says that news of her death had a terrible impact on him: "It pained me spiritually, physically.

The Guardian

"A fast-food restaurant on the corner can have a terrible impact on a child's life," he said.

The New York Times

Workers also claimed that the cut in cabin crew numbers at the end of last year was having a "terrible" impact on service to passengers.

Independent

Like the urchin die-off, the 2013 sea-star-wasting-disease outbreak had a terrible impact over an enormous geographic range.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Mr Mosley, who successfully sued over the story last year which wrongly suggested the party had Nazi overtones, said that the episode had a "terrible, terrible" impact on him and his family and that the exposure of the embarrassing details about his private life still affected him.

Independent

"We all saw just a few weeks ago the terrible impact on a community and a nation when mental illness leads to tragedy," Mr. Otter said, echoing a commonly held belief, although the authorities have not described the mental state of Adam Lanza, the Newtown gunman, or said if he suffered from mental illness.

The New York Times

Set in an apocalyptic future between 2073 - 2100 A.D., Shelley's tale describes the terrible impact of a plague that kills off almost all of humanity.

Huffington Post

Two reports published this week offer contrasting supply-side and demand-side views.The first, written at the prime minister's behest by Adrian Beecroft, a venture capitalist, emphasises the "terrible impact" of rules that make it costly to fire workers.

The Economist

"You can see the terrible impact of being an alcoholic right away," Lee said, recalling his darkest fantasy days.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a terrible impact", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being negatively affected. For example, specify if it's "a terrible impact on the environment" or "a terrible impact on mental health".

Common error

Don't use "a terrible impact" without specifying the cause or source of the impact. Always clarify what is creating the negative effect to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a terrible impact" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes the effect of an action or event, emphasizing its negative nature, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Academia

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a terrible impact" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a significantly negative effect. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific domains, to highlight adverse consequences. When using this phrase, it's best practice to clearly specify what's being affected to avoid vagueness. While alternatives like "a devastating effect" or "an adverse effect" exist, "a terrible impact" effectively conveys the severe and negative nature of an outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a devastating effect

Emphasizes the destructive and ruinous nature of the impact.

a calamitous consequence

Highlights the disastrous outcome or result.

a ruinous outcome

Focuses on the destructive result.

a damaging influence

Highlights the harm caused over time.

an adverse effect

Indicates a negative or unfavorable result.

a harmful consequence

Focuses on the detrimental results.

a negative repercussions

Emphasizes the knock-on effects or aftereffects.

a serious implications

Stresses the gravity and significance of the effects.

a grave fallout

Highlights the severe repercussions or aftermath.

a tragic result

Emphasizes the sorrowful or lamentable nature of the outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "a terrible impact" in a sentence?

You can use "a terrible impact" to describe the significant negative effect or consequence of something. For instance, "The new policy had "a terrible impact" on employee morale."

What are some alternatives to using "a terrible impact"?

Alternatives include "a devastating effect", "a calamitous consequence", or "an adverse effect", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "a terrible impact on" or "a terrible impact to"?

"A terrible impact on" is generally the preferred and more grammatically correct construction. "A terrible impact to" is less common.

What's the difference between "a terrible impact" and "a significant impact"?

"A terrible impact" explicitly denotes a negative outcome, whereas "a significant impact" is neutral and simply indicates that the effect was noteworthy, whether positive or negative.