negative results for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "negative results for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are discussing outcomes or findings that are unfavorable or undesirable, often in scientific or medical reports. Example: "The study yielded negative results for the effectiveness of the new drug in treating the condition."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In this case the supernatant of the washed mycelia provided negative results for formation of NPs.

Nature

Any interference with free trade in the long run produces negative results for the country that imposes the restrictions.

The Guardian - Business

However, the upstream and downstream segments of pfhrp2 also gave negative results for at least six samples.

Nature

The tension, as analyzed from a game theory perspective, would resort to negative results for both parties.

Cornell University

All rice samples gave negative results for the presence of 35S and NOS terminator.

Genetically Modified Organisms in Food Production, Safety, Regulation and Public Health

Mayor Larry Raymond wrote that the city of 36,000 had absorbed more than 1,000 Somalis in 18 months and could not take more "without negative results for all".

The New York Times

From the hairs found Lee's body, which did not match Adnan, to the dozens of soil samples taken from his clothing, shoes, car, and room, which returned negative results for matching soil from Leakin Park.

The Guardian - Opinion

The blurred line between a company's news apparatus and its business-side relationship with Facebook is a wonderful example of how Facebook's tactics in the market can have negative results for users.

The New Yorker

The 77 patients with negative results for PPD still had negative test results when retested at 3 months.

American Journal of Infection Control

Seven unidentified strains of Gram-positive cocci subjected to these PCR assays produced negative results for each culture.

Food Microbiology

Two-point linkage analysis yielded negative results for all models.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "negative results for", clearly specify what the results are negative for. For example, instead of saying "the results were negative", say "the results were negative for tumor cells".

Common error

Avoid using "negative results for" as a vague, catch-all phrase. Always provide specific details about what the results pertain to in order to maintain clarity and precision. For example, rather than stating, "the project had negative results", specify, "the project had negative results for revenue growth".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "negative results for" typically functions as a prepositional phrase, often part of a larger sentence describing the outcome of a test, experiment, or investigation. As Ludwig AI points out, it indicates that something did not produce the expected or desired outcome, aligning with several examples found in various scientific and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "negative results for" is a prepositional phrase that signifies unfavorable or non-existent outcomes, commonly used across scientific, news, and academic contexts. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely accepted, with usage examples demonstrating its prevalence in reporting research findings and test outcomes. When writing with "negative results for", prioritize clarity and specificity, detailing what the results are negative for. Though versatile, the register leans towards formal and scientific, so consider your audience and adjust accordingly. Related phrases like "unfavorable results for" or "adverse outcomes for" can provide nuanced alternatives depending on the intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfavorable results for

Replaces "negative" with "unfavorable", maintaining the same meaning but with a slightly different tone.

adverse outcomes for

Substitutes "results" with "outcomes" and "negative" with "adverse", emphasizing the unfavorable consequences.

detrimental effects on

Changes "results" to "effects" and specifies the direction of the negative impact using "on".

harmful consequences for

Replaces "results" with "consequences" and "negative" with "harmful", highlighting the damaging nature of the outcomes.

poor outcomes for

Uses "poor" as a more general term to indicate undesirable results.

undesirable effects for

Replace "negative" with "undesirable", suggesting that results are not desired.

failed to produce results for

Rephrases to focus on the lack of positive results, emphasizing the failure to achieve the desired outcome.

yielded no positive outcomes for

Similar to "failed to produce results", but uses "yielded" and specifies "positive" outcomes.

ineffective for

Conveys the lack of positive results by stating that something is not effective or efficient.

counterproductive for

Highlights that something produces results that are the opposite of those intended.

FAQs

How can I use "negative results for" in a sentence?

You can use "negative results for" to indicate that a test, experiment, or action did not produce the desired or expected outcome. For example: "The blood tests showed "negative results for" the virus."

What are some alternatives to "negative results for"?

Alternatives include "unfavorable results for", "adverse outcomes for", or "detrimental effects on", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "negative results for" or "positive results for not"?

The phrase "negative results for" is generally clearer and more concise than rephrasing it as "positive results for not". The negative phrasing directly conveys the lack of the tested element or effect.

What does it mean when a test shows "negative results for" something?

It means the test did not detect the presence of whatever was being tested for. For instance, "negative results for" a disease mean the disease was not found in the sample.