an offsetting effect

USAGE SUMMARY

"an offsetting effect" is a correct and usable phrase in English.
It is typically used to describe something that serves to counterbalance or mitigate another thing or phenomenon. For example, "The new sales tax had an offsetting effect due to the increased cost of goods."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

For some reef species, elevated pCO2 could act synergistically with warmer SSTs and effectively decrease thermal tolerance, although an offsetting effect may also occur [42].

Plosone

But it seems that there is also an offsetting effect.

The Economist

But he said the combined company would include certain products, like dark chocolate, that were perceived as healthier and could have an offsetting effect.

The New York Times

The bank could therefore tolerate supply-side shocks which boosted growth and reduced inflation, as they would have an offsetting effect on NGDP.

The Economist

"One unappreciated side effect of the 401(k) system is that it's a sort of reverse automatic stabilizer," says Teresa Ghilarducci, an economics professor at the New School.But there is likely to be an offsetting effect.

The Economist

The bidirectional laminae display incrementally improved tensile fatigue performance from what appears to be an offsetting effect associated with alternating orthogonal layers.

Materials & Design

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Thus, the main effect of surround stimulus presentation was an overall reduction in stimulus-driven activity, irrespective of the stimulus orientation, i.e. an offset effect, which was reflected in the overall reduced tuning baseline.

European Journal of Neuroscience

This scrappage must have disrupted the supply chain to used car dealers, limiting supply and leading to increases in price.The relative increase in the price of used cars will no doubt encourage some buyers who might have opted for a pre-owned vehicle to instead purchase a new car hence the offsetting effect (and another source of upward pressure on new vehicle prices).

The Economist

At the same time, though, the 2003 Navigator is heavier and more stiff than the 1999 Navigator, factors which could have some offsetting effect.

The New York Times

Then, the micro-vibration model is extended to consider an axial disturbance and a measurement offset effect.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

This was called an "offset effect" and was passed on like a bad gene to the magnetic readers, the offspring of punch cards, which are used to grade standardized tests.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an offsetting effect", ensure the context clearly identifies both the initial effect and the factor that diminishes or counteracts it. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a correlation implies causation when describing "an offsetting effect". Make sure that the counteracting factor demonstrably influences the initial effect, rather than merely coinciding with it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an offsetting effect" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject complement or object within a sentence. It describes a situation where one factor diminishes or neutralizes the impact of another. Ludwig AI affirms its correct and usable status.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

17%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an offsetting effect" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, used to describe a factor that reduces or neutralizes the impact of another. Ludwig examples show that this phrase frequently appears in scientific and news contexts, reflecting its utility in analyzing complex relationships. The phrase is suitable for neutral to formal registers. While alternatives like "a counterbalancing effect" or "a mitigating effect" exist, "an offsetting effect" provides a specific emphasis on one factor diminishing the impact of another. To ensure clarity, contextualize this term by clearly defining both the initial impact and its counteracting force to avoid misinterpretations about causation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a counterbalancing effect

Replaces "offsetting" with "counterbalancing", emphasizing the balance of opposing forces.

a mitigating effect

Substitutes "offsetting" with "mitigating", focusing on reducing the severity of something.

a neutralizing effect

Replaces "offsetting" with "neutralizing", highlighting the act of making something ineffective.

a compensating effect

Swaps "offsetting" with "compensating", stressing the idea of making up for a deficiency or loss.

a countervailing effect

Uses "countervailing" instead of "offsetting", suggesting an effect that opposes another.

a balancing effect

Replaces "offsetting" with "balancing", implying the establishment of equilibrium.

a remedial effect

Substitutes "offsetting" with "remedial", indicating a corrective or curative impact.

an alleviating influence

Rephrases the idea to focus on the alleviation of something, using "influence" instead of "effect".

a counteracting influence

Shifts the focus to "influence" with "counteracting", which acts against something.

a restorative impact

Changes the wording to "restorative impact", emphasizing the restoration of something to a former condition.

FAQs

How can I use "an offsetting effect" in a sentence?

You can use "an offsetting effect" to describe a situation where one factor reduces or cancels out the impact of another. For example: "The price increase had "an offsetting effect" due to increased demand."

What are some alternatives to "an offsetting effect"?

Some alternatives include "a counterbalancing effect", "a mitigating effect", or "a neutralizing effect" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "offsetting effect" or "counteracting effect"?

Both "offsetting effect" and "counteracting effect" are valid. "Offsetting" suggests a balancing or canceling out, while "counteracting" emphasizes opposition or resistance. Choose the term that best fits the context.

Can "an offsetting effect" be negative?

While typically used to describe a positive counteraction, "an offsetting effect" can technically refer to a negative consequence that reduces the impact of another negative consequence. The key is that it diminishes some initial impact, whether positive or negative.