have a net negative effect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have a net negative effect" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the overall impact of an action, decision, or phenomenon that results in more harm than benefit. Example: "The new policy is expected to have a net negative effect on employee morale and productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Clayton cites an academic study that shows major cultural events have little effect on the local economy, and can even have a net negative effect on sentiment.

The Guardian

While the pullback from nuclear power may encourage development of renewable resources, it is likely to have a net negative effect on climate change, since most nuclear generating capacity will inevitably be replaced by dirtier fossil fuel power plants.

The New York Times

As for the combined impact of ATM and POS transactions, column III shows that interaction POS and ATM transactions appear to have a net negative effect on the demand for currency.053).053

SERIEs

The Apple Watch is the most promising wearable to date in terms of having a broad, positive impact on the state of the category, but the rush from others to try to capitalize on or re-route some of its success may have a net negative effect on wearable tech in general.

TechCrunch

There was a strong positive relationship between specificity measured as the number of bacteria upon which phages have a net negative effect and specificity measured as the differences in the intensity of negative effects, indicating that enemies with large victim-ranges tend to impact their different victims more equally than enemies with small ranges.

Ecological Processes

Notably, however, the greenhouse gas (GHG) issue is a 'tragedy of the commons' problem where an individual or country may obtain at least a short-term benefit from unsustainable activities (e.g. over-use of fertilizers) that may have a net negative effect on overall human welfare over time.

Evolutionary Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

A show which has had a net negative effect on our neighborhood and the city of Portland as a whole".

The Guardian

In the end, adding people was not a solution for more output; it probably had a net negative effect.

The New York Times

Whether increasing maternal labor force participation represents a source of added risk or has a net negative effect on children's healthy development, is a matter of debate.

Cornell University

This means that costly altruism can evolve even if it has a net negative effect on the average reproductive success of related recipients.

Nature

However, fossil-fuel subsidies are seen as having a net negative effect since they distort the economy and stimulate environmental deterioration (Ellis [2010]).

Journal of Economic Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "have a net negative effect", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being negatively affected and the overall scope of the impact. For example, specify whether it's the economy, the environment, or a specific group of people.

Common error

Avoid using "have a net negative effect" when the negative impact is minor or uncertain. Qualify the statement with terms like "potentially" or "slightly" if the evidence is not conclusive to avoid exaggerating the consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have a net negative effect" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that a particular subject causes an overall negative outcome or impact. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable. Examples from Ludwig show it's used to describe the consequences of events, policies, or actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have a net negative effect" is a grammatically sound way to express that the overall impact of something is detrimental. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid and usable in English. Its usage spans various contexts, including science, news, and general discussions, indicating its versatility. While "have a net negative effect" is not extremely common, several alternative phrases can be used to convey a similar meaning, such as "result in a negative outcome" or "produce a detrimental impact". When using this phrase, it's important to be clear about what is being negatively affected and to avoid exaggerating the impact if the evidence is not conclusive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

result in a negative outcome

Replaces "effect" with "outcome" for a more general result.

produce a detrimental impact

Substitutes "have" with "produce" and "net negative effect" with "detrimental impact".

lead to adverse consequences

Replaces "have a net negative effect" with "lead to adverse consequences", focusing on the resulting consequences.

generate a counterproductive result

Changes "have a net negative effect" to "generate a counterproductive result", emphasizing the opposite of the intended outcome.

cause an overall loss

Replaces the more formal "net negative effect" with the simpler "overall loss".

create a negative impact overall

Rearranges the sentence structure while maintaining the core meaning.

exert a negative influence

Substitutes "have" with "exert" and "effect" with "influence", implying a force causing negativity.

prove counterproductive

More concise, indicating the action turns out to be the opposite of helpful.

negatively affect

A direct and simpler way to express the same concept, using a verb instead of a noun phrase.

have a detrimental influence

Substitute effect with influence in order to soften the result.

FAQs

What does it mean for something to "have a net negative effect"?

It means that the overall impact of something is more harmful than beneficial. The negative consequences outweigh the positive ones.

How can I use "have a net negative effect" in a sentence?

You can say, "The new policy is expected to "have a net negative effect" on employee morale." Be sure to specify what is being negatively impacted.

What are some alternatives to "have a net negative effect"?

Alternatives include "result in a negative outcome", "produce a detrimental impact", or "lead to adverse consequences", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "negative impact" or "net negative effect"?

While "negative impact" is generally acceptable, ""have a net negative effect"" specifies that the overall result, considering both positive and negative aspects, is negative. It suggests a comprehensive assessment.