in a negative context

USAGE SUMMARY

"in a negative context" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or statement that has a negative connotation or meaning. Example: "The politician's comments were taken out of context, resulting in a negative context being placed on his words."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

But too often, unfortunately, too much is made of it in a negative context.

The New York Times - Sports

Why? "Well, I'm the only person who mentions Murdoch in a negative context.

The Guardian - Music

The rise of a Hindu nationalist party with an overwhelming majority of votes was widely reported in the British media, mostly in a negative context.

The Guardian

"If I were gay and someone used that word in a negative context, of course I'd be insulted," she said.

The New York Times

Mr. Kerry will not shrink from drawing contrasts with President Bush, but his speech will be overwhelmingly positive in tone, aides said, and he will not mention Mr. Bush's name in a negative context.

The New York Times

The attention to Windows 98 in the news media's coverage of the antitrust suits has been "bittersweet," Mr. Mehdi said, because while it brought the issue of browser integration to the public's attention, it did so in a negative context.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

For many viewers, these programmes may be the first time they have seen young males portrayed in anything other than a negative context.

The Guardian

This was perhaps most famously demonstrated in 2007 when a 15 year old girl from Dallas, Texas found her photograph plastered across billboards in Australia and portrayed in a very negative context, all because her church youth counselor posted the photograph to an online photo service and didn't fully understand the click-through legal contract for the rights he assigned the image.

Forbes

Bilateral insula and ACC were amongst brain regions activated in response to oesophageal stimulation, and midcingulate gyrus (BA 24) and bilateral AIC were significantly more active when oesophageal stimulation occurred in a negative emotional context (and were the only brain regions to show this response pattern, making this a particularly striking finding).

Brain Structure and Function

Short telomeres were shown to trigger senescence in mammals (Hemann et al. 2001; Zou et al. 2004; Armanios et al. 2009) and we previously demonstrated in S. cerevisiae that introducing a single very short telomere accelerated senescence in a telomerase-negative context and triggered senescence signaling, e.g., the recruitment of both Tel1 and Mec1 (Abdallah et al. 2009).

Genetics

Interestingly, the presence of a single critically short telomere accelerates senescence in a telomerase-negative context [ 75,76], suggesting that the length of the shortest telomere is a major determinant of the onset of senescence in this organism.

Current Opinion in Genetics and Development

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "in a negative context", ensure the specific negative aspect is clear to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "the situation was presented in a negative context", specify "the situation was presented in a negative context, highlighting the potential financial risks".

Common error

Avoid using "in a negative context" repetitively within a single piece of writing. Overusing it can make your writing sound monotonous and weaken the impact. Consider using synonyms or rephrasing the sentence to maintain clarity and engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in a negative context" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying the circumstances or manner in which an action or situation is presented or perceived. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which consistently show the phrase adding contextual information to the statement.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

34%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in a negative context" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that serves to specify the circumstances or manner in which something is presented or understood negatively. According to Ludwig, its purpose is to clarify the lens through which information is being conveyed, alerting the audience to a negative bias or interpretation. The phrase is suitable for neutral registers, appearing frequently in news and media and scientific publications. While useful for adding clarity, it's essential to avoid overuse and redundancy, and to ensure that the specific negative aspect is clear. Understanding how to use this phrase effectively can greatly enhance one's writing skills.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in an unfavorable light

Replaces "negative context" with a metaphor about lighting, implying a negative portrayal.

with a negative connotation

Focuses on the negative implications or associations of something.

in a pejorative sense

Highlights that something is used in a derogatory or disapproving manner.

framed negatively

Emphasizes the act of presenting something in a negative way.

in a critical manner

Suggests an approach that finds fault or expresses disapproval.

under negative circumstances

Shifts focus to the adverse conditions surrounding something.

viewed with disapproval

Highlights that something is seen as unacceptable or objectionable.

in a detrimental way

Focuses on the harmful or damaging effects of something.

negatively interpreted

Emphasizes how something is understood in a negative manner.

under a cloud of suspicion

Implies something is regarded skeptically or distrustfully.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "in a negative context" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, consider alternatives like "in an unfavorable light", "with a negative connotation", or "under negative circumstances", depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

What's the difference between "in a negative context" and "in a positive context"?

"In a negative context" implies something is being viewed or presented unfavorably, while "in a positive context" means it's being seen or presented favorably. The key difference lies in the valence or emotional tone associated with the situation.

Is it always necessary to specify when something is used "in a negative context"?

Specifying that something is used "in a negative context" is important when the negativity isn't immediately obvious or when the context is crucial to understanding the intended meaning. Otherwise, it might be redundant.

What are some common words or phrases that often appear "in a negative context"?

Words or phrases related to failure, criticism, conflict, or loss are often used "in a negative context". Examples include "decline", "criticism", "setback", and "challenge", but the specific context always determines the actual valence.