an external influence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an external influence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to factors or forces that come from outside a system or individual and affect their behavior or decisions. Example: "The team's performance was significantly affected by an external influence, such as market trends and consumer preferences."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

An individual gets influenced by an external influence with a probability (p) in an iteration (t).

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

An individual gets influenced by an external influence with a probability (p) in an iteration (t).   2.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

If an external influence establishes a current in a conductor, the current generates a magnetic field.

Britannica

"The China government is concerned about things they don't understand, things they can't control and things that have an external influence," said Robert Seiple, the department's ambassador at large for religious freedom.

The New York Times

A large number of common skin diseases also are directly or indirectly determined by a person's genotype (genetic constitution), but their expression may require an external influence or an altered hormonal milieu.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Sometimes that comes from within, sometimes from an external influence.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Young (2005) suggested a more comprehensive framework identifying 4 groups of factors that influence uptake of evidence by decision-makers: (a) external influences; (b) the context encompassing politics and institutions; (c) the type of evidence, its quality and how it is communicated and; (d) stakeholders, their links and their roles, including legitimacy of researchers [ 10].

BMC Public Health

But now researchers have shown that light can also travel in a curve, without any external influence.

Science Magazine

Although ES cells can differentiate into neural precursors in the absence of any external influence, only a small percentage of neural cells survive and differentiate under these conditions [ 29, 30].

BMC Gastroenterology

God's active involvement is not an additional, external influence upon events.

SEP

Although it was noted that referencing holy writ was an inappropriate "external influence," two appeals courts upheld the jury's sentence and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an external influence", clearly specify what that influence is to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "the project failed due to an external influence", state "the project failed due to an external influence, specifically the sudden market downturn".

Common error

Avoid attributing outcomes solely to "an external influence" without further analysis. Overlooking internal factors can lead to incomplete solutions and inaccurate understanding of the causes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an external influence" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. It refers to a factor or force originating from outside a system or entity, impacting its behavior or state. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an external influence" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to denote factors or forces originating from outside a system that affect its behavior. Ludwig AI analysis of its usage shows the phrase is employed across diverse fields, notably science, news, and encyclopedias. While semantically similar alternatives like "an outside factor" or "an external force" exist, specifying the precise nature of the external influence is crucial for clarity. Remember that while the phrase is correct, it should be used with precision and awareness of its formal tone, avoiding overgeneralization and ensuring a balanced analysis of internal and external factors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an outside factor

Replaces "influence" with a more general term, "factor", broadening the scope of impact.

an external factor

Uses the word "factor" maintaining the external nature of the impact but focusing on its role as an element.

an outside force

Substitutes "influence" with "force", emphasizing the strength or power of the external element.

an external force

Similar to "an outside force" but highlights the systematic or structured nature of the influence.

an extraneous impact

Emphasizes that the influence is not essential or inherent to the system.

an external pressure

Suggests the influence is exerting some kind of duress or strain.

an external effect

Focuses on the consequence or result of the external factor.

a foreign impact

Uses "foreign" to stress the alien or unfamiliar nature of the affecting agent.

a third-party effect

This alternative stresses that the impact comes from a source other than the primary parties involved.

an exogenous influence

Replaces "external" with the more technical term "exogenous", implying an origin outside the system.

FAQs

How can I use "an external influence" in a sentence?

You can use "an external influence" to describe a factor originating from outside a system or individual that affects it. For instance, "The company's profits were affected by "an external influence" like increased competition".

What can I say instead of "an external influence"?

You can use alternatives like "an outside factor", "an external force", or "an extraneous impact" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "external influence" or "outside influence"?

Both "external influence" and "outside influence" are generally correct and interchangeable. "External influence" might be perceived as slightly more formal, while "outside influence" is more common in everyday language.

What's the difference between "an internal influence" and "an external influence"?

"An internal influence" refers to factors originating within a system or individual, while ""an external influence"" refers to factors originating from outside that system or individual. For example, motivation is an internal influence, while market trends are an external influence.