is detrimental to

USAGE SUMMARY

'is detrimental to' is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something has a harmful or damaging effect on a particular thing or situation. For example, "A poor diet is detrimental to a person's health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is detrimental to it.

The Guardian

"The influence of them is detrimental to the area".

The New York Times

**·**Disorganization is detrimental to grades and to your social life.

The New Yorker

It's a distraction and is detrimental to our chances.

The Guardian - Sport

This is detrimental to our patients at times.

The New York Times

·Disorganization is detrimental to grades and to your social life.

The New Yorker

"The shortcut mentality is detrimental to learning," he said.

The New York Times

"I think generally, the rhetoric is detrimental to the process".

The New York Times - Sports

The rules are compromising competitiveness, which is detrimental to the sport".

The Guardian - Sport

Suggesting that this is detrimental to the developing baby seems alarmist and ill founded.

The Guardian

Such a cultural universe is detrimental to the kind of political project promoted by the Communists.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is detrimental to", clearly specify what is being harmed or negatively affected to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "This policy is detrimental", specify "This policy is detrimental to economic growth".

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of "is detrimental to" can make writing sound overly formal or stilted. Consider using simpler alternatives like "harms" or "hurts" to make your writing more accessible and less verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is detrimental to" functions as a predicative adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something that causes harm or damage. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is detrimental to" effectively conveys a negative impact or harmful effect. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While "is detrimental to" is appropriate for many situations, consider using simpler alternatives in less formal writing. Remember to clearly specify what is being negatively affected when using this phrase. With a high expert rating and frequent usage, "is detrimental to" remains a valuable tool for expressing concern or caution in various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is harmful to

Emphasizes the damaging or injurious nature of something.

is damaging to

Focuses on the harm caused, often physical or structural.

is injurious to

Highlights the harm or damage inflicted upon something.

is prejudicial to

Indicates bias or harm that affects fairness or justice.

is adverse to

Describes an unfavorable or opposing effect.

is unfavorable to

Highlights a negative or disadvantageous impact.

is counterproductive to

Emphasizes that something hinders progress toward a goal.

is destructive to

Focuses on the act of causing significant damage or ruin.

is unhealthy for

Specifies that something has a negative impact on well-being.

is bad for

A more general and informal way of expressing a negative impact.

FAQs

How can I use "is detrimental to" in a sentence?

Use "is detrimental to" to indicate that something has a harmful or damaging effect on something else. For example, "Smoking is detrimental to your health" or "Excessive screen time is detrimental to children's development".

What are some synonyms for "is detrimental to"?

Some alternatives to "is detrimental to" include "is harmful to", "is damaging to", "is injurious to", and "is bad for". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "is detrimental to" and "is beneficial to"?

"Is detrimental to" indicates a negative impact, while "is beneficial to" indicates a positive impact. For example, exercise "is beneficial to" health, while smoking "is detrimental to" it.

Is it better to use "is detrimental to" or "detrimentally affects"?

Both "is detrimental to" and "detrimentally affects" are grammatically correct, but "is detrimental to" is often preferred for its simplicity and clarity. "Detrimentally affects" can sometimes sound more formal or complex.