as a negative instance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a negative instance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are discussing examples that illustrate a negative case or outcome in a particular situation or study. Example: "In our research, we identified several cases that served as a negative instance, highlighting the potential pitfalls of the approach."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

For instance, Crispin Wright and Stewart Shapiro say a competent speaker can faultlessly classify the borderline case as a positive instance while another competent speaker can faultlessly classify the case as a negative instance.

SEP

Thus, the instance (age= youth, student = no, credit_rating = fair) can be sorted down left the most branch of the tree and can be classified as a negative instance (i.e. tree predicts buys_computer = no).

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

In this case, the neighbourhood of a test instance located close to the boundary is more likely to be dominated by negative support vectors, which makes decision function more likely to classify an instance located close to the boundary as a negative instance [ 41].

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

If the free energy change was negative (protein destabilization), the instance was labelled as a negative example.

BMC Genomics

False positive is misclassifying an actual negative instance as a positive; false negative is misclassifying an actual positive instance as a negative; and true positive and true negative are the correct classifications.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

A protein that is present in the YP4gte2 reference set (Section 2.3.1) is labeled as true identification (positive instance), and a protein that is absent from it is labeled as a false identification (negative instance).

Bioinformatics

Then, the database was used to label each relation instance as a positive or negative instance in both datasets.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

The subsequence that has S or T at the center and not annotated as being glycosylated is represented as negative instance.

Bioinformatics and Biology Insights

In Dover, a former Polish neighborhood that is now a haven for Mexican-American strivers, the authors find an entirely negative instance of "intergroup harmony," as white and Latino parents lobby to keep their children from being bused to schools in poor black neighborhoods.

The New York Times

In Schölkopf et al., 2001, it is shown how, to identify a region that contains with high probability most of the positive data, one can formulate the classic SVM optimization problem for binary classification using the origin of the feature space as the only negative instance.

Bioinformatics

If Pericles' name turned up, it was as a negative exemplar: Machiavelli, for instance, cited him as the incarnation of democratic instability.

The Telegraph

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as a negative instance", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes a positive or expected outcome to emphasize the contrast.

Common error

Avoid using "as a negative instance" when the instance is simply neutral or non-applicable, rather than actively demonstrating a failure or contrast.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a negative instance" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by providing an example that serves to illustrate a contrasting or opposite outcome. Ludwig shows that this phrase introduces a specific case that highlights a negative or unsuccessful outcome, in opposition to a positive or expected one.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a negative instance" is a grammatically sound phrase, used to introduce a contrasting or opposite example. While not exceedingly common, its usage is primarily concentrated in formal and scientific contexts, such as research papers and analytical reports. According to Ludwig, the phrase effectively serves to highlight limitations or exceptions. Consider alternatives such as "as a counterexample" or "as a negative example", depending on the desired level of formality and the specific nuance you aim to convey. The key is to ensure that the context provides a clear understanding of what constitutes a positive instance to effectively illustrate the contrast.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a negative example

This alternative is more general and simply indicates an example that is not positive or desirable.

as a counterexample

This alternative emphasizes the role of the instance in disproving a general statement or claim.

as an exception

This alternative suggests the instance deviates from the norm or expected pattern.

as an opposite example

This alternative showcases cases where the exact opposite of the intended result occurred.

as a disproof

This alternative highlights the instance's capacity to invalidate a theory or hypothesis.

as an unusual case

This alternative is a less formal way to describe an instance that stands out from the others.

as an invalidation

This alternative, like 'as a disproof', refers to something making an argument or claim untrue.

as an atypical instance

This alternative suggests that the instance is not representative or typical.

as a failing case

This alternative suggests a scenario that does not meet the required conditions or standards.

in contrast

This alternative is a more concise way to introduce an instance that highlights a difference.

FAQs

How can I use "as a negative instance" in a sentence?

You can use "as a negative instance" to introduce an example that contradicts a general rule or expectation, demonstrating an opposite outcome. For example, "The study used this case as a negative instance to highlight potential flaws in the proposed theory".

What's the difference between "as a negative instance" and "as a negative example"?

While similar, "as a negative instance" often implies a more specific or formal context, such as in scientific research or data analysis, whereas "as a negative example" is a more general term.

What can I say instead of "as a negative instance"?

Alternatives include "as a counterexample", "as an exception", or "as a disproof", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "as a negative instance" in formal writing?

Yes, "as a negative instance" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in academic or scientific contexts where precise language is important. Ensure the context clearly establishes what a positive instance would be for effective contrast.