distressing effects

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "distressing effects" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe negative or harmful consequences that cause emotional or psychological discomfort. Example: "The study revealed the distressing effects of prolonged exposure to high levels of noise on mental health."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The funny thing about the high-end "new vintage" market is that key distressing effects are as low-fi as they sound.

The New York Times - Magazine

More generally, the wider reality of a society thrown completely off balance by the emotional toxicity of neoliberal thinking is affecting Britain in profound ways, the distressing effects of which are often most visible in the therapist's consulting room.

The Guardian

Natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods have distressing effects on human lives, economy and environment particularly in the developing countries due to their high population and lack of infrastructure.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

It's not clear from these experiments how long these distressing effects last.

Huffington Post

Vulnerable and innocent, no children are immune to the distressing effects of terrorism, whether they live in America, Iraq, or Pakistan.

HuffPost

In hospitals, the change was given added impetus by the work of social worker and psychoanalyst James Robertson who filmed the distressing effects of separation on children in hospital and collaborated with Bowlby in making the 1952 documentary film A Two-Year Old Goes to the Hospital.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

He said it had "a de-stressing effect on the skin," meaning that it reduced signs of wear and tear, not a "distressing effect".

The New York Times - Health

But Argireline in a cream does not penetrate deeply enough to reach the muscle.. Yet, like other peptides, Dr. Packer said, it has "a distressing effect on the skin" that encourages the growth of new skin and collagen.

The New York Times - Health

Authorities in Ohio delayed at least one killing after an attempt to use an alternative drug was branded "a failed, agonising experiment" because of its slow and distressing effect on its target.

Independent

This may be because of the distressing effect caused as a result of the settled goaf overlying the parting of about 65 m between 1 and 3 seams.

International Journal of Geo-Engineering

This may be due to distressing effect caused as a result of the settled goaf overlying the parting of about 65 m between 1 and 3 seams.

International Journal of Geo-Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing emotional or psychological harm, use "distressing effects" to clearly convey the negative impact. This phrase is suitable when you want to highlight the upsetting or troubling nature of the consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "distressing effects" in situations where the consequences are minor or insignificant. Overusing the phrase can dilute its impact and make your writing sound overly dramatic. Consider using milder alternatives like "negative impacts" or "unfavorable outcomes" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "distressing effects" primarily functions as a descriptor, specifying the nature of the effects. It is typically used to qualify nouns, indicating that those effects are troubling or upsetting. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in context.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Academia

7%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "distressing effects" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves to describe negative consequences that cause emotional or psychological discomfort. While not exceedingly common, it appears across diverse sources, including science, news media, and formal business contexts. Ludwig's analysis suggests that while grammatically sound, writers should be mindful of overuse in less serious contexts, as this can diminish its impact. For alternative phrasing, options such as "harmful consequences" or "negative impacts" may be suitable depending on the desired tone and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harmful consequences

Replaces "distressing" with "harmful", emphasizing the damaging nature of the consequences.

negative impacts

Substitutes "distressing" with "negative" and "effects" with "impacts", providing a broader and less emotionally charged tone.

adverse outcomes

Uses "adverse" instead of "distressing" and "outcomes" in place of "effects", focusing on the unfavorable results.

unpleasant repercussions

Replaces "distressing" with "unpleasant" and "effects" with "repercussions", highlighting the disagreeable nature of the consequences.

troubling results

Substitutes "distressing" with "troubling" and "effects" with "results", emphasizing the worrying nature of the outcomes.

worrisome consequences

Uses "worrisome" in place of "distressing", highlighting the anxiety-inducing aspect of the consequences.

unsettling impacts

Replaces "distressing" with "unsettling", emphasizing the disturbing nature of the impacts.

painful sequelae

Substitutes "distressing" with "painful" and "effects" with the more formal "sequelae", indicating consequences that cause suffering.

traumatic aftereffects

Uses "traumatic" instead of "distressing" and "aftereffects" in place of "effects", emphasizing the potential for long-term psychological harm.

severe repercussions

Emphasizes the intensity of the negative consequences by using "severe" instead of "distressing".

FAQs

How can I use "distressing effects" in a sentence?

You can use "distressing effects" to describe the negative consequences of a situation. For example: "The study revealed the "distressing effects" of social isolation on mental health." or "Natural disasters have "distressing effects" on communities."

What are some alternatives to "distressing effects"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "harmful consequences", "negative impacts", or "adverse outcomes" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "distressing effects" formal or informal?

"Distressing effects" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it is often found in more serious or academic writing. The level of formality also depends on the surrounding language.

What kind of situations typically cause "distressing effects"?

"Distressing effects" are often associated with situations like natural disasters, traumatic experiences, chronic illnesses, or significant social issues. These situations typically have negative emotional and psychological impacts on individuals or communities.