afflicts a lot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "afflicts a lot" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that causes significant distress or suffering to many people or things. Example: "The disease afflicts a lot of individuals in the community, leading to widespread concern among health officials."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Yet in his defence, he suffers from a trend that afflicts a lot of young English managers.

Independent

And it seeks to justify this with paid research that is sometimes only slightly better than the "paid news" that afflicts a lot of private media.

The Guardian - Opinion

In Tottenham's case, Levy's problem is the same one that afflicts a lot of people in his position, namely relying on their own judgment when they have only minimal knowledge of the relevant field.

The Guardian - Sport

But other songs, particularly the ballads, suffer from the same lack of structure and overly tame production that afflicts a lot of contemporary R&B.; The airy, synth-laden "It Really Doesn't Matter" is a quiet storm devoid of electricity.

Los Angeles Times

Ultimately, I worry it will suffer from the curse of "running out of ideas because the season order is too large" – otherwise known as Pretty Little Liars Syndrome – which afflicts a lot of American teen-angled dramas.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The diamond wire machines used for carrying out the former task are afflicted with a lot of technological troubles, such as poor surface finishing, low efficiency (in comparison with diamond wire machines used in quarries), process dangerousness and high cost of the cutting operation, due to the numerous breaking of the wire, that is expensive.

Diamond and Related Materials

A zombie infection afflicts a high-speed locomotive from Seoul to its titular destination, causing mass panic, lots of gore and some great World War Z-style set pieces.

The Guardian

In the United States, it afflicts an estimated 80,000 people.

The New York Times

My guess is that the numbers of people afflicted will get a lot worse".

The New York Times - Magazine

On CNN, James DuPont, the father of an afflicted girl, said, "A lot of these kids were just, you know, having a happy, normal life".

The New York Times - Magazine

These problems would afflict a British version of The Bridge.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "afflicts a lot", ensure the subject clearly indicates what is being negatively impacted. For instance, specify if it affects "people", "businesses", or "systems".

Common error

While grammatically correct, "afflicts a lot" can sound less formal than alternatives like "significantly impacts" or "substantially affects". Choose vocabulary that matches the tone of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "afflicts a lot" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something causes considerable distress or problems. It emphasizes the negative impact on a subject, implying a significant degree of suffering or difficulty. Ludwig confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "afflicts a lot" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe something that causes significant distress or trouble. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is usable in written English. While not extremely common, it is found in various contexts, primarily in news and scientific sources. It is crucial to ensure that the subject is clear and that the level of formality aligns with the writing context. Alternative phrases, such as "affects considerably" or "impacts significantly", may be more appropriate in certain situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

affects considerably

Replaces "a lot" with "considerably", emphasizing the degree of impact rather than the quantity.

impacts significantly

Substitutes "afflicts" with "impacts" and "a lot" with "significantly", focusing on the importance of the effect.

substantially affects

Inverts the structure, with "substantially" modifying "affects", to place emphasis on the impact of the affliction.

troubles frequently

Replaces "afflicts" with "troubles" and "a lot" with "frequently", shifting the focus to recurring disturbances.

plagues extensively

Uses "plagues" instead of "afflicts" and "extensively" instead of "a lot" to convey a sense of widespread and persistent suffering.

burdens substantially

Replaces "afflicts" with "burdens" and "a lot" with "substantially", emphasizing the weight or load caused.

harms greatly

Substitutes "afflicts" with "harms" and "a lot" with "greatly", highlighting the damage inflicted.

distresses repeatedly

Replaces "afflicts" with "distresses" and "a lot" with "repeatedly", focusing on the recurring nature of the emotional suffering.

inflicts widely

Uses "inflicts" to replace "afflicts" and "widely" instead of "a lot" to stress the broad reach of the negative effect.

causes widespread suffering

Rephrases the entire expression to emphasize the result of the affliction, focusing on the breadth and depth of suffering.

FAQs

What does "afflicts a lot" mean?

The phrase "afflicts a lot" means that something causes considerable distress, suffering, or trouble to a significant degree or number of entities.

What can I say instead of "afflicts a lot"?

You can use alternatives like "affects considerably", "impacts significantly", or "troubles frequently" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "afflicts a lot" or "affects a lot"?

While both are grammatically correct, "afflicts" carries a connotation of causing suffering or distress, whereas "affects" is more general. Choose "afflicts a lot" when emphasizing the negative impact.

Is "afflicts a lot" too informal for academic writing?

While grammatically sound, "afflicts a lot" can be perceived as less formal. Consider alternatives like "impacts significantly" or "substantially affects" for a more academic tone.