lose specificity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lose specificity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where details or precision are diminished or removed. Example: "In the process of simplifying the report, we may lose specificity regarding the data analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Protein detection methods lose specificity when the protein target is immersed within a matrix of thousands of molecules having wide ranges of concentrations.

Journal of Virological Methods

The anti-tumor activities and safety of TCR-transferred T cells can be improved by knocking out endogenous TCR, which avoids the use of affinity-enhanced TCRs that may lose specificity and cause severe adverse effects.

Current Research in Translational Medicine

In a press release, Girirajan explained, "When individuals carrying classically-defined genetic syndromes were evaluated for features of autism, a high frequency of autism was observed, even among disorders not previously associated with autism, suggesting that the tools for diagnosing autism lose specificity when applied to individuals severely affected by other genetic syndromes".

Vice

Thus, based on the EC50 of the ER agonists, the dose chosen would be about 50 100 times this EC50 and thus should be at high enough doses to saturate their respective ER but not so high as to lose specificity.

Plosone

If the seeds get larger and increasingly general, then they may lose specificity.

BMC Genomics

In contrast, the second protein evolved to lose specificity for SLII.

Biochemistry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

We observed a peptide-induced functional antibody response that, remarkably, exceeded the response induced by the native protein in outer membrane vesicles, without losing specificity for related strains.

Journal of Molecular Biology

Regarding epitopes on one receptor, nanocarriers addressed with anti-TfR-R17 maintained brain and lung targeting in mice, compared with "free" antibody, while anti-TfR-8D3 nanocarriers lost specificity.

Biomaterials

Together, these results show that LHP1-CD* lost specificity for H3K27me3 in vitro and that LHP1-CD*-GFP cannot bind to at least some LHP1 targets in vivo, which may explain its altered sub-nuclear localization.

Plosone

In previous work [20], [21], [48], we presented implementations of multicompartment systems and resolved the problem of readjusting vesicle formation/composition as well as of losing specificity by using linkers consisting of biotinylated DNA single strands (biotin-ssDNA) that were anchored by long and flexible phospholipid-grafted biotinylated PEG tethers via streptavidin as a connector.

Plosone

This enhances sensitivity without losing specificity.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing scientific methods or diagnostic criteria, use "lose specificity" to indicate that a test or method becomes less reliable in identifying a specific target or condition due to interference or broad application.

Common error

Avoid using "lose specificity" when a simpler phrase like "become vague" or "become less precise" would suffice. Reserve it for contexts where the loss of specificity has significant technical or analytical implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lose specificity" functions as a verb phrase, often used to describe how a particular method, tool, or concept becomes less precise or targeted. It describes a diminishing of precision.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

71%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lose specificity" is grammatically correct and primarily used in scientific and technical contexts to describe a reduction in precision or focus. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It commonly appears in discussions of diagnostic methods, scientific experiments, and analytical processes where the ability to distinguish between different targets or characteristics diminishes. While not extremely common, it is a useful term for accurately conveying a decline in precision or selectivity, and should be used when other simplified alternatives are not precise enough. Related phrases such as "become less specific" or "lose focus" can be considered, but ensure they accurately reflect the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become less specific

Focuses on the gradual reduction of specificity.

lose focus

Emphasizes a shift away from a particular target or subject.

become generalized

Highlights the expansion of application beyond the original scope.

lose precision

Focuses on the decline in accuracy or exactness.

become less defined

Emphasizes the blurring of boundaries or distinctions.

lose distinctiveness

Highlights the fading of unique qualities or characteristics.

become less targeted

Focuses on the decline in precision in identifying or aiming at a particular target.

lose selectivity

Highlights the inability to distinguish between different options or targets.

become diluted

Emphasizes a reduction in concentration or strength of a specific characteristic.

become blurred

Focuses on the loss of clear boundaries or outlines.

FAQs

How can I use "lose specificity" in a sentence?

You can use "lose specificity" to describe a situation where something becomes less precise or targeted. For example: "Protein detection methods "lose specificity" when the protein target is immersed within a matrix of thousands of molecules".

What are some alternatives to "lose specificity"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "become less specific", "lose focus", or "become generalized".

What does it mean for a diagnostic test to "lose specificity"?

When a diagnostic test "loses specificity", it means that the test is more likely to produce false positive results, indicating the presence of a condition when it is not actually present.

Is it better to "lose specificity" or "lose sensitivity" in a test?

Neither is ideal, but the consequence depends on the situation. "Losing sensitivity" means missing true positives, while "losing specificity" means getting false positives. The better option depends on the relative risks and costs associated with each type of error.