adversely affect

USAGE SUMMARY

"adversely affect" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something causing harm or having a negative effect on something. For example: "The mayor warned that the new policy will adversely affect the city's budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Low temperatures also adversely affect its strength.

Encyclopedia Britannica

That can adversely affect the ecosystem.

The Guardian

Would the increased traffic adversely affect the cows?

The New York Times - Travel

"A fishbowl can adversely affect a child," Ms. Jones said.

The New York Times

This will no doubt adversely affect Muslim doctors.

The Guardian - Opinion

Should it persist, it could adversely affect market values.

The New York Times - Arts

Chronic exposure may adversely affect liver function in humans.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In addition, national economic policies may also adversely affect households.

Journal of Economic Structures

They will be very dominant and adversely affect the skyline".

BBC

Non-nutritive sucking habits may adversely affect the orofacial complex.

Progress in Orthodontics

It adversely affect the performance of the model.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the potential consequences of an action or policy, use "adversely affect" to clearly communicate a negative impact. For instance, "The proposed budget cuts will adversely affect public services."

Common error

While "adversely affect" is appropriate in many situations, avoid overusing it in contexts that require simpler language. Sometimes, a more straightforward phrase like "hurt" or "damage" can be more effective. Always consider your audience and the intended tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adversely affect" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something has a negative or harmful impact on something else. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. The examples demonstrate its wide application across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "adversely affect" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a negative impact, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's versatile, appearing in various contexts from scientific research to news reports. While "adversely affect" is widely accepted and understood, remember to consider your audience and context when choosing the most effective wording. As noted in the writing guidance, simpler language may sometimes be preferred. Use "adversely affect" when you want to clearly communicate a negative consequence, but always be mindful of the tone and formality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negatively impact

Replaces "affect" with "impact", which is a slightly more formal term and can imply a stronger effect.

harmfully influence

Substitutes "adversely" with "harmfully" and "affect" with "influence", highlighting the damaging aspect of the effect.

detrimentally impact

Uses "detrimentally" to emphasize the negative and harmful aspect of the impact.

badly affect

Replaces "adversely" with "badly", creating a more informal and direct tone.

unfavorably influence

Substitutes "adversely" with "unfavorably" and affect with influence, softening the negative implication.

have a negative effect on

Changes the structure to a verb phrase, focusing on the effect rather than the action of affecting.

impair

Offers a concise single-word alternative, implying a weakening or damaging effect.

undermine

Suggests a gradual or subtle weakening of something, often its foundation or stability.

hinder

Focuses on the action of impeding or obstructing something's progress or development.

aggravate

Implies making a situation or condition worse than it already is.

FAQs

How can I use "adversely affect" in a sentence?

Use "adversely affect" to describe how something negatively impacts something else. For example, "Pollution can adversely affect the environment."

What are some synonyms for "adversely affect"?

You can use alternatives such as "negatively impact", "harmfully influence", or "detrimentally impact" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "adversely affects"?

Yes, "adversely affects" is correct when the subject is singular and in the third person. For example, "The new policy adversely affects small businesses."

What is the difference between "adversely affect" and "directly affect"?

"Adversely affect" implies a negative consequence, while "directly affect" simply means there is a direct influence, without specifying whether it is good or bad.