detrimentally affect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "detrimentally affect" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in any context where you're discussing something that has a negative effect on something else. For example: "High unemployment rates detrimentally affect people's quality of life in many ways."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Intellectual disability and seizures have also been reported in affected individuals, suggesting that infant-onset mutations detrimentally affect Kv3.3-expressing neurons outside of the cerebellum.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Housing is in a terrible state and politicians are unable to do anything about it because it would detrimentally affect everyone who is an owner-occupier.

The Guardian - Opinion

"He gave the impression of being sincere and caring … He said that his government wouldn't do anything that would detrimentally affect families with disabled children, financially or otherwise.

The Guardian

For instance, Rae Langton and Jennifer Hornsby have argued persuasively that cultural norms and stereotypes can detrimentally affect the ability of women to be heard and taken seriously.

The Guardian - Opinion

Though there are no deferment fees and the interest should stay as agreed, going off-plan can detrimentally affect your credit history.

Independent

Even if such a designation of the space was not stated, Mr. Graff said, the board would have a right to prohibit any use of the backyard that would detrimentally affect the common elements.

The New York Times

During the visit, he gave her his personal assurance that if he became prime minister, he would not do anything that would detrimentally affect disabled children, financially or otherwise.

The Guardian

"This could detrimentally affect residual values with the knock-on effect that the used-vehicle purchase becomes a more competitive proposition – bringing an element of balance back to the industry".

The Guardian - Business

However the land court "made findings of fact that the proposed mining would not detrimentally affect global greenhouse gas emissions" and these were "not amenable to statutory review", McMurdo said.

The Guardian

One could argue that this constellation might detrimentally affect the competitive opportunities of foreign producers.

Environmental Sciences Europe

Many of the 97 letters said increased noise levels would detrimentally affect nearby Almondsbury village.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "detrimentally affect", ensure the subject and object are clearly defined to emphasize what is causing the negative impact and what is being affected. This enhances clarity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

While "detrimentally affect" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "hurt" or "harm" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "detrimentally affect" functions as a verb phrase, specifically an action verb, indicating the act of causing harm or having a negative impact. Ludwig's examples show its use in describing the adverse effects of various situations or actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "detrimentally affect" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe a harmful or negative impact. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's appropriate for various writing contexts, particularly in formal and scientific domains. While it appears frequently in scientific and news sources, overuse in informal contexts should be avoided. Consider simpler alternatives like "negatively affect" or "harm" for casual communication. The phrase is useful for expressing cause-and-effect relationships where the result is undesirable, emphasizing the negative consequences of actions or situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negatively impact

Emphasizes the negative consequence or result of an action or situation, similar to causing harm.

adversely influence

Focuses on the negative effect on something's course or development, like swaying it unfavorably.

harmfully impact

Highlights the damaging effect an action has on a subject, stressing the injury it causes.

badly affect

Indicates a severe or unfortunate effect, emphasizing the degree of negativity.

impair

Suggests a weakening or damaging effect on functionality or quality, causing it to diminish.

undermine

Emphasizes the weakening or destructive effect an action has on the foundation or strength of something.

damage

Focuses on the physical or structural harm caused by an action or event.

compromise

Suggests a weakening of quality, strength, or effectiveness through an action or situation.

have a negative impact on

Describes the occurrence of adverse effects caused by a specific action.

take its toll on

Illustrates the gradual but significant damaging impact on an object.

FAQs

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

Use "detrimentally affect" to describe something that has a harmful or negative impact. For example, "Pollution can detrimentally affect the environment."

What are some alternatives to "detrimentally affect"?

You can use alternatives like "negatively impact", "adversely affect", or "harmfully impact" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "detrimentally affect" or "negatively affect"?

Both "detrimentally affect" and "negatively affect" are correct. "Detrimentally affect" is generally considered more formal and emphatic.

What is the difference between "detrimentally affect" and "positively affect"?

"Detrimentally affect" indicates a negative or harmful impact, while "positively affect" indicates a beneficial or helpful impact. They are antonyms.