increase the risk of

USAGE SUMMARY

"increase the risk of" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe the negative consequences of an action. Example sentence: Eating too much fast food can increase the risk of developing heart disease.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Radiation did increase the risk of cancer.

The New York Times - Health

These changes increase the risk of dehydration.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It can increase the risk of cancer.

The New York Times - Health

They even increase the risk of depression by 12%-20 12%-20

The Guardian

Such infections can increase the risk of H.I.V. infection.

The New York Times - Health

"Demoralized and underpaid employees increase the risk of corruption".

The New York Times

This would increase the risk of flooding at the structure".

The Guardian - Opinion

Estrogen can also increase the risk of blood clots, and in older women it may increase the risk of dementia.

The New York Times

They can also increase the risk of certain cancers.

Harvard University

Lung disorders also increase the risk of AF.

Harvard University

All of these conditions increase the risk of heart disease.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "increase the risk of", clearly identify what action or condition is causing the increased risk and what the potential negative outcome is. This provides clarity and context for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "increase the risk of" without providing sufficient context. For instance, instead of saying "X increases the risk of Y", explain how X leads to Y to enhance understanding and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increase the risk of" functions as a verb phrase that expresses the action of making something more likely to cause harm or negative consequences. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is commonly used across different contexts to denote a causative relationship between an action or condition and a potential hazard.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

25%

Science

22%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "increase the risk of" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something elevates the likelihood of a negative outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its wide usage across various contexts, including news, academia, and science. When using this phrase, ensure to clearly specify both the cause and the potential negative effect. While alternatives like "heighten the probability of" or "raise the likelihood of" exist, "increase the risk of" is a straightforward and widely understood expression. Be mindful of oversimplifying causal relationships and provide sufficient context to support your claims.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heighten the probability of

Changes "risk" to "probability" focusing on statistical likelihood instead of potential danger.

raise the likelihood of

Replaces "risk" with "likelihood", emphasizing a statistical increase rather than a hazard.

exacerbate the danger of

Substitutes "risk" with "danger", intensifying the sense of potential harm.

aggravate the chance of

Replaces "increase" with "aggravate", suggesting a worsening of an existing situation.

contribute to the possibility of

Shifts focus from direct causation to contributing factors.

escalate the threat of

Replaces "risk" with "threat", intensifying the sense of potential harm or danger.

make more susceptible to

Focuses on making something more vulnerable or receptive to a negative outcome.

boost the odds of

Uses a more informal expression to indicate increasing the likelihood of something.

predispose to the potential for

Highlights the creation of a predisposition or tendency towards something.

make more prone to

Emphasizes a tendency or inclination toward a particular outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "increase the risk of" in a sentence?

Use "increase the risk of" to indicate that a specific action, condition, or substance makes a negative outcome more likely. For example, "Smoking can "increase the risk of" lung cancer".

What are some alternatives to "increase the risk of"?

You can use alternatives like "heighten the probability of", "raise the likelihood of", or "exacerbate the danger of" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "increase the risk of" or "increases the risk for"?

"Increase the risk of" and "increases the risk for" are both grammatically correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Increase the risk of" is generally used for specific outcomes or conditions, while "increases the risk for" is usually used when discussing populations or groups.

What's the difference between "increase the risk of" and "pose a risk to"?

"Increase the risk of" implies a gradual or incremental increase in the likelihood of something negative. "Pose a risk to", on the other hand, suggests that something presents a direct and immediate threat or danger.