harmful consequence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harmful consequence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing negative outcomes or effects resulting from an action or event. Example: "The harmful consequence of pollution is the deterioration of air quality, which affects public health."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

So the foul play was intentional, even if, according to Leko, the harmful consequence was not.

The New York Times - Sports

The most harmful consequence of these fiscal constraints is declining number of support staff, classroom assistants, and special education personnel.

The Washington Post

Hence, the IRI cannot be interpreted in terms of a physical risk estimate (such as probability of a specific harmful consequence).

Nature

Systematic investigation of the anesthetic system after difficulty in ventilating the patient revealed the obstruction, without any harmful consequence to the patient.

Journal of Clinical Anesthesia

"One harmful consequence of the 'No child left behind' program is that principals are trying to meet the requirements by putting troublemakers directly into jail," he said.

The New York Times

Also, if I kept at it and did this often enough, I would be putting into practice the habituation theory, in which you learn not to respond to a situation when it's not followed by anything of harmful consequence.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

It has vast, harmful consequences.

The New Yorker

This will have two harmful consequences.

The Economist

–Explain how this invention or discovery has led to harmful consequences or could lead to harmful consequences.

The New York Times

Our membership did rise, but Mr. Nader ignores the harmful consequences of the Reagan-Watt tenure.

The New York Times

Fiddling with taxes on businesses can also have harmful consequences, Mr. Goldberg said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing potential risks or downsides, use "harmful consequence" to clearly identify the negative outcomes that might occur. This is especially useful in fields like science, medicine, and policy where precision is crucial.

Common error

Avoid using "consequence" alone when the negative impact is clear. Instead, always pair it with "harmful" or another adjective that specifies the negative nature of the outcome. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harmful consequence" primarily functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence or clause. Ludwig shows that it serves to identify and name a negative outcome resulting from a specific action or event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "harmful consequence" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a negative outcome or effect. As Ludwig AI points out, it is used across various domains, including science, news media, and formal business contexts. While alternatives like "adverse outcome" or "negative impact" exist, "harmful consequence" clearly conveys the damaging nature of the result. When writing, be specific and avoid overuse of "consequence" without specifying the harm. By using this phrase effectively, you enhance clarity and precision in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adverse outcome

Replaces "consequence" with "outcome" and "harmful" with "adverse", focusing on the result's negativity.

negative repercussion

Substitutes "consequence" with "repercussion", highlighting the indirect impact of an event, and "harmful" with "negative".

damaging effect

Replaces "consequence" with "effect" and "harmful" with "damaging", emphasizing the extent of the harm caused.

detrimental impact

Substitutes "harmful" with "detrimental" and "consequence" with "impact", stressing the significant and adverse influence.

unfavorable result

Replaces "harmful" with "unfavorable" and "consequence" with "result", indicating a less positive outcome.

ill effect

A more concise alternative, replacing "harmful consequence" with a direct indication of a bad or negative impact.

negative outcome

A general term indicating a result that is not desirable or positive, substituting "harmful" with "negative" and "consequence" with "outcome".

deleterious effect

Uses the more formal "deleterious" in place of "harmful", still referring to a negative effect or impact.

undesirable consequence

Emphasizes the lack of desirability of the outcome, rather than its strictly harmful nature.

adverse ramification

Uses "ramification" to suggest a more far-reaching or complex consequence that is negative.

FAQs

How can I use "harmful consequence" in a sentence?

You can use "harmful consequence" to describe a negative result or effect resulting from a particular action or situation. For example, "The "harmful consequence" of smoking is lung cancer".

What are some alternatives to "harmful consequence"?

Alternatives include "adverse outcome", "negative repercussion", or "damaging effect", depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "harmful consequence"?

While "consequence" often implies a result, adding "harmful" clarifies the nature of the result as negative or detrimental, removing any ambiguity. It's not strictly redundant but provides emphasis.

What's the difference between "harmful consequence" and "negative impact"?

"Harmful consequence" refers to a specific outcome that is damaging, while "negative impact" is a broader term that can refer to any adverse effect, whether it's a specific result or a general influence. The phrases can often be used interchangeably, but “harmful consequence” may suggest a more direct and attributable cause-and-effect relationship.