absence of consequence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absence of consequence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there are no repercussions or effects resulting from an action or event. Example: "The absence of consequence in his actions led him to make reckless decisions without fear of repercussions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

While the overall clinical presentation of the patients (severe short stature, microcephaly, gonadal failure) generally conforms with what is expected for the defect of a critical non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) DNA repair factor, the absence of consequence on the proper development of the immune system is rather surprising, given the role of NHEJ in V(D J recombination.

EMBO Molecular Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I was amazed at the absence of consequences.

The New Yorker

No wonder those who witnessed the frauds and bailouts and absence of consequences in 2008 and 2009 are having déjà vu all over again.

Huffington Post

The reasons range from basic expediency, as in the pledge to provide five days of public review for legislation before The President signs it into law; to strategy, as in the White House decision to nix Obama's promise of televised health care deliberations; to an absence of consequences, since there are so few sources of sustained scrutiny for these dry issues.

Huffington Post

We suggest that VTG expression may be interpreted as a warning of reproductive consequences, but absence of expression cannot be interpreted as absence of consequences.

Environmental Health Perspectives

In the absence of consequences procurement officers became accustomed to the process of reporting and the lack of further investigation into any poor performance.

Globalization and Health

An important consequence is the absence of effect of decreased oxygen availability on energy-supply in CH hearts evidenced by Modular Regulation Analysis (figure 2).

Plosone

C.E.O.s and corporate boards do respond to moral suasion and bad publicity, even in the absence of legal consequences.

The New Yorker

Mr. Levy said many Web sites' security audits were not thorough enough to find problems -- a situation he attributed to the absence of severe consequences for failure to maintain tight security.

The New York Times

A general absence of legal consequences in case of non-compliance with the information duty is the wrong signal for companies who take their responsibility seriously, phase out SVHCs in their articles, and respond to all consumer requests.

Environmental Sciences Europe

It is quite human of us to be somewhat removed from the vast array of social justice concerns in this world when there is an absence of immediate consequences or a foreseen potential impact on our own lives.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "absence of consequence", ensure the context clearly indicates what action or event lacks consequences. For instance, specify "the absence of consequence for repeated tardiness" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "absence of consequence" in overly abstract or philosophical contexts where a more concrete term like "lack of impact" or "no accountability" would provide clearer meaning. For example, instead of saying "the absence of consequence in the universe", specify "the lack of universal accountability".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absence of consequence" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. As seen in Ludwig, it denotes a situation where an action or event does not lead to any significant repercussions or effects.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "absence of consequence" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe situations where actions do not have the expected or deserved outcomes. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While it's a less frequent phrase, it finds its place primarily in scientific, news, and formal business writing. For more casual contexts, alternatives like "lack of repercussions" or "no accountability" might be more suitable. Using this phrase correctly involves clearly specifying what action or event lacks consequences to avoid any ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lack of repercussions

Replaces "absence" with "lack" and "consequence" with "repercussions", emphasizing the lack of negative effects.

no repercussions

Directly states that there are "no repercussions", simplifying the phrasing.

lack of accountability

Focuses on the lack of being held responsible, shifting the emphasis slightly.

no accountability

A simpler, more direct way to express the lack of being held responsible.

lack of impact

Focuses specifically on the lack of effect or influence.

no impact

A more direct expression of a lack of effect or influence.

without consequences

Uses a prepositional phrase to indicate the lack of consequences.

impunity

A single word indicating exemption from punishment or negative consequences.

freedom from repercussions

Highlights the "freedom" from negative effects, adding a specific nuance.

no ramifications

Replaces "consequence" with "ramifications", suggesting a lack of broader or more complex effects.

FAQs

How can I use "absence of consequence" in a sentence?

You can use "absence of consequence" to describe a situation where an action does not have any repercussions. For example: "The policy failed because of the "absence of consequence" for non-compliance".

What can I say instead of "absence of consequence"?

You can use alternatives like "lack of repercussions", "no accountability", or "lack of impact" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "absence of consequence" or "absence of consequences"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "absence of consequences" is more common and often sounds more natural, especially when referring to multiple potential effects. However, "absence of consequence" can be used when referring to a singular, overarching result.

What is the difference between "absence of consequence" and "lack of impact"?

"Absence of consequence" generally refers to the lack of negative repercussions or accountability. "Lack of impact" focuses more broadly on the lack of any significant effect or influence, not necessarily negative ones.