can greatly affect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can greatly affect" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the potential impact or influence of one thing on another. Example: "The new policy can greatly affect employee morale and productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But these votes can greatly affect the race.

The Guardian

Buffeting can greatly affect aerodynamic behavior.

Aerospace Science and Technology

Predators can greatly affect the structure of communities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Most dermatological diseases won't kill you, but they can greatly affect your quality of life".

The New York Times

The idea has to be realised, though how this happens can greatly affect the outcome.

The Guardian - Arts

But wherever investors go, the after-hours marketplaces have differences that can greatly affect their attractiveness.

The New York Times

Encouraging the use of condoms – or condemning it – can greatly affect HIV prevalence rates in a community.

The Guardian

In any given year, such movements can greatly affect profits or losses for American investors in foreign markets.

The New York Times

Some even tell you the angle of the grease gutter (did you know that can greatly affect crispiness?).

The New York Times - Tech

Studies have found that the colour of a food can greatly affect how its taste is perceived.

The Guardian - Books

Gravity-driven preferential flow (fingering) can greatly affect how one fluid displaces another in the subsurface.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "can greatly affect", ensure the subject and object are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity about what is influencing what. For instance, specify, "Changes in land use can greatly affect sediment production."

Common error

Avoid using "can greatly affect" when the actual impact is minimal or uncertain. Qualify the statement with phrases like "may potentially affect" or "could possibly influence" if the evidence is not conclusive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can greatly affect" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a potential for significant influence. Ludwig AI highlights numerous examples across various domains where this phrase is used to express the ability of one factor to have a substantial impact on another.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

30%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "can greatly affect" is a versatile phrase used to express the potential for significant influence or impact across various domains. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in science and news media. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly identifies the influencing and influenced elements. While effective, consider related phrases like "can significantly impact" or "can substantially influence" for nuanced expression. Avoid overstating the effect if the impact is uncertain.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can substantially influence

Replaces "greatly affect" with "substantially influence", emphasizing a considerable impact through influence.

can significantly impact

Substitutes "greatly affect" with "significantly impact", highlighting a notable effect.

can profoundly alter

Replaces "greatly affect" with "profoundly alter", suggesting a deep and transformative change.

can considerably change

Changes "greatly affect" to "considerably change", indicating a noticeable degree of alteration.

can have a major effect on

Rephrases "can greatly affect" to "can have a major effect on", emphasizing the magnitude of the effect.

can extensively modify

Replaces "greatly affect" with "extensively modify", pointing to widespread changes.

can dramatically reshape

Changes "greatly affect" to "dramatically reshape", suggesting a striking transformation.

can heavily influence

Substitutes "greatly affect" with "heavily influence", stressing the strong influence exerted.

can seriously impact

Replaces "greatly affect" with "seriously impact", highlighting the severity of the impact.

can largely determine

Changes "greatly affect" to "largely determine", emphasizing a decisive role in shaping the outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "can greatly affect" in a sentence?

You can use "can greatly affect" to indicate that something has a substantial influence on something else. For example, "The weather "can greatly affect" crop yields."

What are some alternatives to saying "can greatly affect"?

You can use alternatives like "can significantly impact", "can substantially influence", or "can profoundly alter" depending on the context.

Is it more accurate to say "can greatly affect" or "can significantly affect"?

Both "can greatly affect" and "can significantly affect" are valid, and their appropriateness depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. "Greatly" suggests a considerable degree, while "significantly" implies a statistically or practically important effect.

What's the difference between "can greatly affect" and "can slightly affect"?

"Can greatly affect" indicates a major impact or influence, whereas "can slightly affect" suggests only a minor or negligible impact. The choice depends on the magnitude of the effect you are describing.