had the effect of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had the effect of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the outcome or result of an action or event. Example: "The new policy had the effect of increasing employee productivity significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It has had the effect of making me prioritise walking.

The Guardian - Opinion

But his speech had the effect of doing just that.

The New York Times

It might have had the effect of undermining him.

The New York Times

Nevertheless, it had the effect of a cartoon.

The New York Times - Arts

'It had the effect of just... turning around the country.

The Guardian - Sport

This had the effect of making filibusters almost routine.

The New York Times

This had the effect of emboldening the reactionary legions.

The New Yorker

The news had the effect of emptying his mind entirely.

The New Yorker

And this had the effect of fundamentally reordering our world".

The New Yorker

The tie had the effect of rejecting the tests.

The New York Times

This had the effect of overstating Emory's reported test scores.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had the effect of", ensure the causal relationship between the action and its effect is clear and direct.

Common error

Avoid using "had the effect of" when the connection between the action and its supposed effect is weak or unsupported by evidence. Ensure that the cause-and-effect relationship is logical and can be easily understood by the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had the effect of" serves as a causative connector, linking an action or event to its resulting consequence. Ludwig examples showcase its function in describing diverse outcomes, from political shifts to personal prioritizations. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Academia

11%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had the effect of" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to illustrate a cause-and-effect relationship. Ludwig examples demonstrate its prevalence in news, academic, and formal business contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, while alternative phrases like "resulted in" or "led to" can offer nuanced variations. When employing this phrase, ensure that the link between the action and the result is well-substantiated to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resulted in

Focuses on the outcome or consequence as a direct result.

led to

Emphasizes the sequential progression from cause to effect.

caused

Highlights the direct action responsible for the effect.

brought about

Indicates a more significant or transformative effect.

gave rise to

Suggests the creation or emergence of something new.

produced

Implies a tangible or measurable result.

generated

Similar to produced, but often used for abstract or intangible outcomes.

created

Emphasizes the formation or construction of something.

triggered

Highlights a sudden or abrupt initiation of the effect.

precipitated

Similar to triggered, often used for events with a rapid or dramatic onset.

FAQs

How can I use "had the effect of" in a sentence?

Use "had the effect of" to indicate that a specific action or event led to a particular outcome. For example: "The new policy had the effect of improving employee morale".

What can I say instead of "had the effect of"?

You can use alternatives like "resulted in", "led to", or "caused" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had the effect of" or "has the effect of"?

"Had the effect of" refers to a past action and its consequence, while "has the effect of" describes a present or ongoing action and its current or future consequence. Choose the tense that aligns with the timeframe you're describing.

What's the difference between "had the effect of" and "impacted"?

"Had the effect of" explicitly states a cause-and-effect relationship. "Impacted" simply means to have an effect on something, without necessarily specifying the nature or direction of the influence. For example, you can replace with alternatives like "influenced", "affected" or "changed".