impact on

USAGE SUMMARY

"impact on" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to the effect of one thing on another. For example: "The new policy had a big impact on the business's bottom line."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

– rather than impact on health.

The New York Times

Take the impact on politics.

The New York Times

"There is a direct impact on migration.

The Economist

What was its impact on the country?

The Economist

Austerity has a specific impact on women.

The New York Times

The impact on ticket sales is telling.

The Economist

"And they had an impact on me".

The New Yorker

The impact on society was greater still.

The Economist

This has a major impact on relationships.

Independent

It had an impact on his son.

The New York Times

But they have little impact on prices.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the effect of an action or event, clearly specify what is being impacted. For example, instead of saying "The policy had an impact", specify "The policy had an impact on employee morale".

Common error

Avoid using "impact" as a verb when a stronger, more descriptive verb would be more appropriate. For instance, instead of "The changes will impact the budget", consider "The changes will affect the budget" or "The changes will reduce the budget".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impact on" functions as a prepositional phrase, often following a noun or verb to specify what is being affected. As shown by Ludwig, it indicates the target or recipient of an action's effect. It commonly modifies a verb, adjective, or noun to add information about the effect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "impact on" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase used to describe the effect or influence that something has on something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and business. When using "impact on", be specific about what is being affected and consider stronger verbs to avoid overuse. Alternatives like ""effect on"", "influence on", and "consequences for" can provide more nuance. In summary, while "impact on" is versatile, mindful and precise usage enhances clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

effect on

Direct synonym using "effect" in place of "impact".

effect upon

A formal alternative, employing "effect" in place of "impact" and "upon" in place of "on".

effect upon

Replaces "impact" with "effect" and "on" with "upon", slightly alters the tone.

influence over

Substitutes "impact" with "influence" and "on" with "over", suggesting a degree of control.

influence upon

Similar to "influence over" but uses "upon" instead of "on".

consequence for

Replaces "impact" with "consequence" and "on" with "for", focusing on the result.

implications for

Substitutes "impact" with "implications", focusing on potential outcomes.

bearing on

Uses "bearing" instead of "impact", indicating relevance or connection.

ramifications for

Highlights the complex and far-reaching consequences, rather than a simple effect.

repercussions for

Replaces "impact" with "repercussions", highlighting the after-effects.

FAQs

How can I use "impact on" in a sentence?

Use "impact on" to show how something affects something else. For example: "The new regulations will have a significant "effect on" the economy".

What are some alternatives to "impact on"?

You can use phrases such as ""effect on"", "influence on", or "consequences for" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "impact on" or "affect"?

"Impact on" is a phrase, while "affect" is a verb. Use "affect" when describing the action of influencing something. For example: "The weather will affect our plans." Use "impact on" to describe the result of the action, such as "The weather had a major "impact on" our plans".

What is the difference between "impact on" and "influence on"?

"Impact on" generally refers to a significant or noticeable effect, whereas "influence on" suggests a more subtle or gradual effect. The choice depends on the strength of the effect you want to convey.