have scarce influence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have scarce influence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something has little to no impact or effect on a particular outcome or decision. Example: "Despite their efforts, the committee found that they have scarce influence over the final decision-making process."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It is conceivable that degradation processes may have scarce influence in transient expression systems, as the time frame of recombinant proteins expression is limited to just 9 days before harvesting.

BMC Biotechnology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Jordan has scarce and declining forest resources.

Journal of Arid Environments

"We have influence but not controlling influence".

The New York Times

Although diet and exercise clearly have an influence on immune function, studies are scarce on the effect caused by exercise and the consumption of a carbohydrate-rich or fat-rich diet on the peripheral immune system.

BioMed Research International

"Who has influence is scarce," says Kevin Mateo Lim, Popcuts founder.

Forbes

We have less influence.

The New York Times

"Does he have undue influence?

The New York Times

Our people have no influence.

The New Yorker

We have that influence.

Los Angeles Times

Even if they were less threatened than more scarce species, fragmentation processes could have a dramatic influence on genetic erosion of species considered as common [ 26].

BMC Ecology

Data are scarce on whether tonsillectomy has any influence on pancreatic cancer risk (Lin and Kessler, 1981).

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have scarce influence" when you want to emphasize that something or someone has very little power or effect on a situation. It's stronger than saying "have little influence" but not as absolute as saying "have no influence."

Common error

Avoid using "have scarce influence" when the subject truly has no influence at all. In such cases, phrases like "have no influence" or "have zero impact" would be more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have scarce influence" functions as a verb phrase indicating a limited degree of impact or control. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It describes a situation where an entity possesses some influence, but that influence is minimal or barely noticeable, suggesting a weak or insignificant effect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have scarce influence" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that indicates a limited impact or effect. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage. While not as common as alternatives like "have little influence", it adds a nuanced emphasis on the minimal degree of power or control. It appears in a variety of contexts, including science, news, and formal writing. When employing this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the situation and that the subject does indeed possess some influence, however small, rather than none at all.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have minimal influence

Replaces "scarce" with "minimal", suggesting a slightly lesser degree of influence.

have little influence

Uses "little" instead of "scarce", conveying a similar lack of impact.

exert limited influence

Replaces "have" with "exert" and "scarce" with "limited", focusing on the act of applying influence.

wield limited influence

Similar to "exert limited influence" but with a stronger connotation of power or control.

have a marginal impact

Shifts the focus from "influence" to "impact", suggesting a small effect.

have a negligible effect

Emphasizes the insignificance of the effect.

carry little weight

Uses a metaphorical expression to convey a lack of importance or influence.

have limited bearing

Indicates that something has a small or indirect relevance.

have a muted effect

Suggests that the effect is suppressed or weakened.

have a tenuous hold

Implies that influence is fragile or easily lost.

FAQs

How can I use "have scarce influence" in a sentence?

You can use "have scarce influence" to describe a situation where something or someone's impact is minimal, for instance, "Despite their efforts, the committee found that they "have scarce influence" over the final decision-making process".

What's a good alternative to "have scarce influence"?

Alternatives include "have minimal influence", "have little influence", or "exert limited influence", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "have scarce influence" or "have little influence"?

"Have scarce influence" is slightly more formal and emphasizes the limited nature of the impact. "Have little influence" is more common in everyday conversation.

When should I not use the phrase "have scarce influence"?

Avoid using "have scarce influence" if you mean to say that something has absolutely no influence. In those cases, use "have no influence".