impair the functionality of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "impair the functionality of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing how something negatively affects the performance or operation of a system, device, or process. Example: "Excessive heat can impair the functionality of electronic devices, leading to malfunctions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

There is converging evidence that Sap lesions selectively impair the functionality of neural systems regulating USVs [ 38, 40, 43].

Alzheimer's Research and Therapy

Changes of their parameters under microgravity can impair the functionality of the neural systems and have significant consequences for human, especially in view of long space travels.

BioMed Research International

Their identification in this study is expected since lack of iron as protein cofactor would impair the functionality of a number of proteins.

BMC Genomics

To control that the GFP-tagging did not impair the functionality of the tagged protein we monitored the lifetime of Abp1 patches, which is very sensitive to defects in the endocytic function (Kaksonen et al., 2005).

eLife

Finally, the amino acid change from leucine in FRI-wt to isoleucine in FRI-L er in the first coiled-coil domain is very conservative, but might impair the functionality of the protein.

BMC Plant Biology

In our setting, the rmlD gene inversion in the 19A variant may impair the functionality of the whole rml gene cluster necessary for rhamnose biosynthesis, a component of the polysaccharide capsule.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Their hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity is balanced, allowing them to perform physiological functions by interacting with some of these anionic structures, without impairing the functionality of others.

Pharmacology & Therapeutics

An uncooperative choice of transmission power by each single vehicle, however, leads to "uncontrolled" load on the communication channel, thus, impairing the functionality of the communication system.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Although the relBE2Spn operon exhibited various degrees of polymorphisms in the different isolates, none of the changes impaired the functionality of the relBE2Spn locus.

Plosone

Instability is crucial for impairing the functionality of missense mutant pVHLs.

BMC Cancer

If a lesion impairs the functionality of neuronal circuits contributing to language, such modulation of neuronal functionality can have a beneficial effect on language performance (Albert, Bachman, Morgan, & Helm-Estabrooks, 1988; Berthier, 2005; Shisler, Baylis, & Frank, 2000).

Aphasiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "impair the functionality of", ensure that the subject causing the impairment is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "impair the functionality of" is generally acceptable, consider simpler alternatives like "weaken" or "reduce effectiveness" in less formal writing to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impair the functionality of" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that something is negatively affecting or reducing the ability of something else to perform its intended purpose. As Ludwig AI shows, it's often used in scientific and technical contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "impair the functionality of" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe a negative impact on something's operational capacity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears most frequently in scientific and technical contexts. When using this phrase, consider whether simpler alternatives might be more appropriate for informal writing, and ensure the cause of the impairment is clearly stated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

degrade the performance of

Changes the verb from "impair" to "degrade", focusing on a gradual decline in performance.

reduce the effectiveness of

Replaces "functionality" with "effectiveness", emphasizing a decrease in how well something works.

diminish the operational capacity of

Uses "diminish" and "operational capacity" to convey a reduction in the ability to operate.

hinder the operation of

Employs "hinder" to highlight the act of impeding the operation.

compromise the performance of

Indicates that the performance is put at risk or weakened.

weaken the function of

Replaces "impair" with "weaken", suggesting a loss of strength in the function.

disrupt the working of

Focuses on the disruption of how something works, rather than its complete failure.

damage the operational capability of

Uses "damage" to suggest physical harm affecting operational capability.

lessen the utility of

Emphasizes a reduction in the usefulness of something.

affect the operation of

A more neutral alternative, simply indicating an impact on the operation without specifying severity.

FAQs

How can I use "impair the functionality of" in a sentence?

You can use "impair the functionality of" to describe how something negatively affects the operation or performance of a system. For example, "Excessive heat can impair the functionality of electronic devices."

What are some alternatives to "impair the functionality of"?

Alternatives include "reduce the effectiveness of", "degrade the performance of", or "compromise the performance of" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "affect the functionality of" or "impair the functionality of"?

"Affect the functionality of" simply indicates an influence, while "impair the functionality of" specifies a negative impact. Use "impair" when you want to emphasize that something is being harmed or weakened. Consider linking to the definition of affect and impair here.

Can external factors "impair the functionality of" software?

Yes, external factors like viruses, malware, or even power outages can "impair the functionality of" software by corrupting data or disrupting processes.