artificial changes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "artificial changes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe modifications or alterations that are not natural or organic, often in contexts related to technology, environment, or social constructs. Example: "The study focused on the effects of artificial changes in the ecosystem due to urban development."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

"The changes cannot, however, be solely cosmetic, and the United States will not support artificial changes.

The Washington Post

No artificial changes may be made except by agreement between both Parties.

Yale University

Artificial changes in or of the course of the rivers shall not affect the location of the boundary unless otherwise agreed.

Yale University

Appearing before the House of Commons justice select committee, Gove confirmed he had no intention of introducing "artificial" changes to sentencing policy to reduce the record 85,000 prison population in England and Wales.

The Guardian

This approach was extended by using digital image processing on the structure data to allow for artificial changes in the morphological characteristics – corresponding to actual variations in the fabrication process.

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

This subject will be further detailed in the agreements to be signed between Jordan and the authorities or companies selected by Israel. 1. Artificial changes in or of the course of the Jordan and Yarmouk Rivers can only be made by mutual agreement.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Perhaps, samples are drawn, as in the famous Miller experiment1,2, but there is no addition of new chemicals or an artificial change in conditions.

Nature

So it's hard to distinguish a genuine shift toward Mr. Romney, from a real but potentially temporary shift based on changes in voter enthusiasm, from an artificial change caused by a bias toward heavy news consumers.

The New York Times

Moisture retention data showed that compaction and artificial change in particle size distribution decreased volumes of large (9 300 μm) and small (<0.2 and 3 9 μm) pore size classes, respectively.

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

We therefore subjected a sandy loam soil to a number of artificial manipulations namely i) compaction, ii) artificial change in particle size distribution, iii) addition of different substrates and iv) change in soil pH to manipulate soil pore structure and the decomposer community for use in lab incubation set-ups.

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

It was left until the production of the final definitive data for 2008 to deal with this artificial change at the observatory absolute pillar.

Earth, Planets and Space

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the impact of human intervention on natural processes, use "artificial changes" to emphasize the non-natural origin of the alterations. For example, "The dam caused significant artificial changes in the river's ecosystem."

Common error

Avoid using "artificial changes" when you mean "superficial changes". "Artificial changes" refers to modifications that are not naturally occurring, while "superficial changes" refers to changes that affect only the surface or appearance. If the changes are merely cosmetic, "superficial changes" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "artificial changes" functions as a noun phrase where "artificial" modifies the noun "changes". As confirmed by Ludwig, it describes alterations that are not naturally occurring, often resulting from human intervention or manipulation. The examples in Ludwig illustrate this function across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "artificial changes" denotes alterations that are not naturally occurring, often due to human intervention. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It appears in varied contexts, from science to news, highlighting its versatile application. While alternatives like "synthetic modifications" and "man-made alterations" exist, understanding the specific nuance each brings is crucial for precision in writing. Ensure that you're not referring to merely superficial alterations when you use this phrase. The phrase's frequency is uncommon, indicating it's not an everyday expression but one that's valuable in specific analytical contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

synthetic modifications

Replaces "artificial" with "synthetic", emphasizing the man-made or non-natural origin of the changes.

man-made alterations

Substitutes "artificial" with "man-made", highlighting the human agency behind the alterations.

contrived modifications

Uses "contrived" instead of "artificial", suggesting that the modifications are deliberately created or arranged, possibly in an unnatural or forced way.

fabricated transformations

Replaces "artificial" with "fabricated", emphasizing that the transformations are constructed or invented.

engineered variations

Substitutes "artificial" with "engineered", highlighting a deliberate design or technical intervention causing the variations.

simulated alterations

Uses "simulated" to indicate that the alterations are imitations or representations of real changes.

induced modifications

Suggests that modifications were brought about or caused by some external factor, which is not necessarily natural.

unnatural shifts

Emphasizes that the shifts are not organic or part of a natural process, highlighting their artificiality.

imposed transformations

Highlights that the transformations are forcibly introduced or implemented.

artificial fluctuations

Replaces "changes" with "fluctuations", focusing on irregular variations or movements.

FAQs

How can I use "artificial changes" in a sentence?

"Artificial changes" refers to alterations that are not natural or organic. For example, "The experiment introduced "artificial changes" to the habitat to study the effects on the local wildlife."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "artificial changes"?

You can use alternatives such as "synthetic modifications", "man-made alterations", or "contrived modifications" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "artificial changes" and "natural changes"?

"Artificial changes" are modifications or alterations caused by human intervention, while "natural changes" occur organically without human influence. Understanding this distinction is crucial in many scientific and environmental contexts.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the term "artificial changes"?

The term "artificial changes" is suitable when discussing alterations to systems, environments, or processes that are directly caused by human actions. This can include environmental science, technology, and even social constructs.