impact something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "impact something" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe the effect or influence that one thing has on another thing. Here is an example: The new government policies are expected to impact the economy significantly.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Though crafty, the work outstayed its impact, something that could not be said for Mr. Haas's newest romantic tempest.

The New York Times

"As you know it's all in the details, and it's very hard to judge the impact something will have until you see it take shape," he said.

The New York Times

"The cheating allegations point to a bigger issue, to make sure the use and overuse of testing does not negatively impact something positive like the standards movement".

The New York Times

"When you see something like this happen it really tells you what your principles are and how you can impact something," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

One whinge – he has an alarming tendency to overclaim on Otpor!/Canvas' impact – something common to new, energetic insurgents (think Avaaz).

The Guardian

For this reason, a relatively small investment of money into these disciplines could make a Really Big impact (something which, to their credit, Bill and Melinda Gates appreciate).

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Science has got no explanation for it something immaterial (a thought?) has impacted something material (our body) in a way which utterly defies logic.

Huffington Post

There is greater insight for employees to understand not just what is happening in their organization but how their individual contributions are impacting something greater.

Huffington Post

It's more focused on having an impact on something larger than oneself, contributing something socially useful that connects with the needs of the larger human community.

Huffington Post

But the class impact is something else.

The Guardian - Opinion

It can have an outsize impact if something goes wrong.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "impact something" when you want to emphasize the effect one thing has on another, particularly in terms of importance or significance. For instance, "The policy will significantly impact local businesses."

Common error

While "impact" is a valid verb, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "affect", "influence", or "shape" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impact something" functions as a verb phrase, where "impact" acts as a transitive verb taking a direct object. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes the act of one thing having a significant effect on another. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate how this phrase is used to describe the influence or consequence of an action or event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "impact something" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to express that one thing has an effect on another. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's important to consider context and audience, because while acceptable, it might benefit from synonyms to prevent overuse. The examples provided by Ludwig reveal that the phrase is frequently used in news, science, and business contexts, emphasizing significant effects or consequences. For example, you might say "The new law will impact the economy" to describe the projected economic effects of the law.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

affect something

Uses a different verb with a direct synonym of impact.

influence something

Replaces "impact" with a verb indicating a similar effect.

have an effect on something

Employs a more descriptive noun phrase to convey the same meaning.

make an impression on something

Shifts the focus to the created impression rather than the effect.

change something

Indicates a direct alteration or modification.

shape something

Suggests a formative influence on something.

alter something

Indicates a minor or partial change.

modify something

Suggests a controlled or specific adjustment.

leave its mark on something

Implies a lasting influence or effect.

bear upon something

A more formal way of saying 'have relevance to something'.

FAQs

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

Use "impact something" to describe the effect or influence one thing has on another. For example, "New regulations will "impact something" the industry significantly."

What can I say instead of "impact something"?

You can use alternatives like "affect something", "influence something", or "have an effect on something" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "affect something" or "impact something"?

Both "affect something" and "impact something" can be correct, but "affect" is generally preferred as a verb meaning to influence. "Impact" as a verb is more recent and can sometimes be seen as jargon, so consider your audience and context.

What's the difference between "impact something" and "influence something"?

"Impact something" suggests a strong or significant effect, while "influence something" implies a more general or subtle effect. Choose the word that best reflects the degree of effect you want to convey.