adverse affect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adverse affect" is not correct in this context; it should be "adverse effect." You can use "adverse effect" when discussing negative consequences or impacts of a particular action, event, or condition.
Example: "The new policy may have an adverse effect on employee morale and productivity."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Skiers staying closer to home is having an adverse affect on some resorts in the West.

The New York Times

They can't do anything that will have an adverse affect on historic Roslyn Village".

The New York Times

Such moral hazard has an adverse affect on competition and the effective operation of our markets," Myners said.

The Guardian - Business

In remote areas of the county, many homeowners have enough land to start a compost pile or dump leaves and grass without adverse affect.

The New York Times

"I don't think there's any question it had an adverse affect to how things went from there".

The New York Times - Sports

Building up debts which she cannot pay will affect her credit rating, and may also have an adverse affect on his - so she could explain that the current situation is doing neither of them any financial favours.

The Guardian - Money

Civil servants also recommended that policies to ban unpaid internships, which greatly increase access to work experience to those from poorer backgrounds, would have an adverse affect on the government's big society agenda.

The Guardian - Money

It is a great feeling to have the crowd behind you when you are playing well but if you are not and your fans get edgy it can have an adverse affect and you start playing even worse.

The Guardian

The government has refused to publish risk assessments of danger to the public during England's imminent night-time badger shoots because doing so "could have an adverse affect upon the health and safety of the public", the Observer can reveal.

The Guardian

"Although the eruv will greatly enhance the quality of life for the observant Jews who make use of it, it will have no adverse affect on others," said the United Synagogue, the leading Orthodox wing of British Judaism.

The New York Times

United Rentals had argued that Cerberus could not abandon the deal without invoking what is known as a material adverse affect clause, a legal escape hatch that is usually written into deal agreements.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "adverse effect", not "adverse affect". "Affect" is generally a verb, while "effect" is a noun. Remember that "adverse" describes something harmful or unfavorable, so the correct noun to use is "effect".

Common error

The most common error is using the verb "affect" instead of the noun "effect". Always double-check if you need a verb (to influence) or a noun (the result of an influence) after "adverse".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adverse affect" functions as a noun phrase intended to describe a negative or harmful influence. However, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "adverse effect". Ludwig AI reports that the correct phrase should be "adverse effect".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "adverse affect" is a common but grammatically incorrect expression intended to denote a negative impact or consequence. As Ludwig AI highlights, the correct phrase is "adverse effect", where "effect" functions as a noun. Despite its frequent use, especially in news and media, it's crucial to use the correct form to maintain grammatical accuracy and credibility. Alternatives such as "negative impact" or "detrimental effect" can be used for variety. Remember to use "affect" as a verb and "effect" as a noun to avoid this common error. While "adverse affect" appears frequently, adhering to the correct grammar ensures clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negative impact

Replaces "adverse" with a more general term for negativity and "affect" with "impact".

detrimental effect

Substitutes "adverse" with "detrimental", emphasizing harm or damage, and corrects "affect" to "effect".

negative consequence

It’s a common and direct synonym, that works very well in many contexts.

harmful consequence

Replaces both words with near synonyms. "Harmful" highlights the potential for injury, and "consequence" implies a result.

damaging outcome

"Damaging" focuses on the negative impact. "Outcome" is a general term for result.

ill effect

A more concise synonym, that works well in informal contexts.

unfavorable result

Uses more neutral language, replacing "adverse" with "unfavorable".

deleterious impact

"Deleterious" is a stronger, more formal synonym for "adverse".

serious repercussions

It emphasizes the gravity of the negative impacts.

negative influence

Focuses on the capacity to have an effect on something, usually in indirect or intangible ways.

FAQs

Which is correct, "adverse affect" or "adverse effect"?

"Adverse effect" is the correct phrase. "Affect" is typically used as a verb, meaning to influence something, while "effect" is usually a noun, referring to the result of an influence. Therefore, when describing a negative result, "effect" is the appropriate choice.

What does "adverse effect" mean?

The phrase "adverse effect" refers to an unfavorable or harmful outcome, impact, or result. It is often used to describe the negative consequences of actions, policies, or environmental factors. You can use alternatives like "negative impact" or "harmful consequence".

How can I use "adverse effect" in a sentence?

You can use "adverse effect" to describe the negative consequences of something. For example: "The budget cuts had an adverse effect on education", or "Pollution can have an adverse effect on public health."

What are some alternatives to saying "adverse effect"?

Alternatives to "adverse effect" include "negative impact", "detrimental effect", "harmful consequence", or "damaging outcome". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.