mixed outcomes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mixed outcomes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or result that has both positive and negative aspects or results. Example: "The new policy led to mixed outcomes, with some departments thriving while others struggled to adapt."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Converting to an academy in the short term produced mixed outcomes and staff voted with their feet.

The Guardian

A wave of spacecraft converged on Mars in late 2003 and early 2004 with mixed outcomes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

* Two former Australian Open finalists competed Wednesday in the opening day of qualifying, with mixed outcomes.

The New York Times

It's sincere, ambitious and angry, which can lead to mixed outcomes.

The New York Times - Arts

Emiliano Surballe, a fixed income analyst at the Swiss private bank Julius Baer, said Argentina faced mixed outcomes from the talks, even if it avoids a default.

The Guardian - Business

But if your goal is to alleviate poverty and human suffering – in the face of statistics showing mixed outcomes – is this, in fact, the most important question an International NGO can ask of themselves?

The Guardian

Another study showed that natural disasters usually produced short-term economic pain but no sign of increased political violence.Earthquakes, too, tend to produce mixed outcomes.

The Economist

GS: Speaking of leadership, let's talk about that within the context of fintech, where, as you know, we've seen mixed outcomes.

TechCrunch

Implementation of health information technology (HIT) has encountered many difficulties and produced mixed outcomes.

The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety

These mixed outcomes underscore the complex interplays between errors in MQPEs, conditional bias in the reference gauge-based analysis, and structural deficiencies of the hydrologic model.

Journal of Hydrology

Behavioral intervention technologies (BITs) designed to prevent depression in adolescence, especially standalone web-based interventions, have shown mixed outcomes, likely due to poor intervention adherence.

Internet Interventions

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "mixed outcomes" with specific details about the nature and extent of the positive and negative results, supported by evidence or data.

Common error

Avoid using "mixed outcomes" as a vague, catch-all phrase. Instead, specify which aspects yielded positive results and which led to negative consequences. Provide concrete examples and avoid broad generalizations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mixed outcomes" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the nature of results or consequences, often implying a combination of both positive and negative aspects as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mixed outcomes" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe results that are neither entirely positive nor entirely negative, according to Ludwig. It's frequently used in science, news, and business contexts to provide a balanced assessment. When using the phrase, it's important to provide specific details about the nature and extent of the positive and negative results to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include "varied results", "inconsistent results", and "uneven results". Using "mixed outcomes" helps convey a nuanced understanding of complex situations where the impact isn't uniformly positive or negative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

varied results

This alternative uses a more general term for results, emphasizing the lack of uniformity.

inconsistent results

This highlights the lack of predictability or consistency in the outcomes.

uneven results

This emphasizes the disparity or imbalance in the achieved outcomes.

patchy results

This suggests that the successes are scattered and not widespread.

mixed bag

This is an idiomatic expression indicating a combination of good and bad elements.

ambiguous results

This highlights the uncertainty or lack of clarity in the outcomes.

heterogeneous results

This uses a more technical term to emphasize the diverse nature of the results.

variable success

Focuses on the fluctuating levels of success achieved.

qualified success

This implies success, but with certain limitations or conditions.

checkered history

An idiomatic phrase suggesting a past with both successes and failures.

FAQs

How can I use "mixed outcomes" in a sentence?

You can use "mixed outcomes" to describe situations where results are partly positive and partly negative. For example, "The trial showed "mixed outcomes", with some patients improving while others did not."

What are some alternatives to saying "mixed outcomes"?

Alternatives include "varied results", "inconsistent results", or "uneven results", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "mixed outcomes" or "positive outcomes" when some results are negative?

"Mixed outcomes" is more accurate when both positive and negative results are present. "Positive outcomes" would be misleading if there were also negative consequences. Using alternatives like "varied results" can also work.

What does it mean when a study reports "mixed outcomes"?

It means that the study found some positive effects and some negative or neutral effects. This suggests the intervention or phenomenon being studied is complex and doesn't have a uniformly positive or negative impact. It is also possible to use something like "ambiguous results".