adverse publicity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'adverse publicity' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to publicity that is negative or unfavorable, typically caused by someone making a mistake or a negative event. For example, "The company's mishandling of the controversy caused a great deal of adverse publicity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The Vancouver Winter Games in 2010 suffered similar early adverse publicity before winning over the public and competitors alike.

The Guardian - Sport

Adverse publicity?

The New Yorker

Coors' executives in Colorado were horrified by this adverse publicity.

The Guardian - Opinion

That's changed recently, but we weren't afraid of adverse publicity.

The New Yorker

But Tony was worried about adverse publicity in Middle England.

The Guardian - Books

Every day I had to make some decision that got adverse publicity.

The New Yorker

The adverse publicity over the Florida suit led other state pension funds to pull their money.

The New York Times

Evidently, all the adverse publicity about Exxon's request for special treatment had an impact.

The New Yorker

Early in the 1980s, dismayed by the adverse publicity Longford was getting, Astor stepped in.

The Guardian

Those spurts of adverse publicity do not exactly undermine the show's conceit.

The New York Times - Arts

Despite growing adverse publicity, the silence from industry stakeholders is deafening.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing potential risks to a company or brand, use "adverse publicity" to highlight the potential damage from negative news cycles.

Common error

Avoid using "adverse publicity" when you mean a calculated attempt to gain attention, even if the attempt is controversial. A publicity stunt, while it might generate controversy, is intentional, whereas "adverse publicity" is the result of negative events or actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adverse publicity" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "adverse" modifies the noun "publicity". It's typically used as the subject or object of a sentence to describe a situation resulting in negative public attention. Ludwig shows many examples where it appears in news and business contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "adverse publicity" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe negative public attention. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently found in news, business, and wiki contexts. While often interchangeable with "bad publicity", "adverse" suggests a more actively harmful impact. When writing, consider the potential for word confusion with similar terms like "publicity stunt" and focus to proactively mitigate potential sources of negative attention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negative press

Focuses on media coverage specifically.

negative coverage

Focuses specifically on media reporting.

bad reputation

Emphasizes the damaged public image resulting from negative information.

unfavorable attention

Highlights the unwelcome nature of the public's focus.

harmful exposure

Stresses the damaging effect of being publicly revealed.

poor image

Underlines a negative perception held by the public.

damaging revelations

Focuses on the disclosure of information that causes harm.

undesired exposure

Highlights the unwelcomed nature of the visibility.

public backlash

Emphasizes the negative reaction from the public.

scandalous disclosure

Highlights the shocking and discrediting nature of the revealed information.

FAQs

How to use "adverse publicity" in a sentence?

You can use "adverse publicity" to describe the negative impact of news or information on a person, company, or organization. For example, "The scandal generated significant "adverse publicity" for the politician."

What can I say instead of "adverse publicity"?

You can use alternatives like "negative press", "bad reputation", or "unfavorable attention" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "adverse publicity" and "bad publicity"?

"Adverse publicity" and "bad publicity" are often used interchangeably, but "adverse" implies a more actively harmful or damaging effect, while "bad" is a more general term for negative attention.

What are some strategies to mitigate "adverse publicity"?

Strategies to mitigate "adverse publicity" include proactive communication, transparency, addressing concerns directly, and taking responsibility for any wrongdoing. Consider hiring a public relations firm for damage control.