downside

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "downside" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the bad aspects or consequences of something. For example, "The downside of living in a tourist town is the overwhelming noise in the summer months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Is there a downside?

The New York Times

Instead the focus of everyone's attention was left to congratulate himself on his decision-making – "It was about the substitutes," Van Gaal volunteered – on an evening when the only real downside for United was the injury bulletin about Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans and Antonio Valencia.

The Guardian - Sport

The downside came in the form of the near-collapse at the start of the second half when Sweden scored twice in quick succession and it was alarming to see the ease with which they got through from two set pieces.

The Guardian - Sport

The downside of such a unique situation and character is, of course, the Riviera price tag, often as steep as the Lattari mountains themselves.

The Guardian - Travel

An intake of fermented dairy products didn't seem to have any downside, and women (but not men) who ate lots of yoghurt and cheese (which contain less D-galactose than milk) actually reduced their risk of fractures or dying.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But they all have to remember what the sociologists sometimes call "white heritage elderly" Brits – younger ones too – who are untravelled, perhaps less educated and instinctively wary of this multicultural stuff, not least because they suffer the downside.

The Guardian

But the downside of Sky Atlantic being basic rather than premium is that programmes will also be shown with ads.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"It was possible that the risks to CPI inflation in the medium term might have, if anything, shifted to the upside, but all members were also alert to the downside risk of current low inflation becoming entrenched".

The Guardian - Business

"Moody's believes that the downside risks warrant putting Spain's rating under review for downgrade," Muehlbronner pronounced with her hand on the lever – whereupon the euro and the stock market both fell.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the downside is that the pill seems to have made women complacent about their sexual health, especially in a student environment, where casual sex is quite common.

The Guardian

In the worst case this would pose 8.5% earnings per share downside risk in 2014, but we think a gradual impact is more likely.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "downside" with "upside" to provide a complete perspective. For example, "The upside is increased efficiency, but the downside is potential job losses."

Common error

Avoid using "downside" when referring to positive aspects or advantages. The term specifically denotes negative or unfavorable elements.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "downside" is as a noun. It typically refers to a disadvantageous aspect or a negative consequence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is used to denote the bad aspects or results of something, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "downside" is a noun used to indicate a negative aspect or disadvantage, as verified by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and very commonly used, particularly in news and formal business contexts. While synonyms like "disadvantage" and "drawback" exist, "downside" is useful for providing balanced evaluations when discussing both positive and negative aspects. Be sure to use "downside" in negative and unfavorable contexts, avoiding its use when referring to positive attributes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disadvantage

Direct synonym, referring to unfavorable circumstances or conditions.

drawback

A less formal synonym, indicating a negative aspect or limitation.

negative aspect

Highlights the unfavorable side of a situation or decision.

detriment

A more formal term for harm or damage resulting from something.

pitfall

Refers to a hidden danger or difficulty.

weakness

Emphasizes a deficiency or vulnerability.

limitation

Focuses on the constraints or restrictions of something.

shortcoming

Indicates a flaw or defect.

adverse effect

Highlights a harmful or undesirable consequence.

negative consequence

Similar to adverse effect, focusing on the unfavorable results.

FAQs

How can I use "downside" in a sentence?

"Downside" is used to refer to the negative aspects or disadvantages of something. For example, "The "downside" of this plan is the high cost."

What are some alternatives to "downside"?

You can use alternatives like "disadvantage", "drawback", or "negative aspect" to express a similar meaning.

Is it correct to use "downside" in a formal context?

Yes, "downside" is appropriate in formal contexts, especially in business or academic writing, to objectively discuss negative implications. However, consider stronger alternatives like "detriment" for very formal settings.

What is the difference between "downside" and "disadvantage"?

While similar, "downside" often refers to a specific negative aspect of something that is generally positive, whereas "disadvantage" is a more general term for any unfavorable condition or circumstance.