negative signs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "negative signs" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to mathematics, finance, or any situation where indicating a negative value or sentiment is necessary. Example: "In the equation, the negative signs indicate that the values are below zero."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"There are negative signs.

The New York Times

There are plenty of negative signs if you look for them, such as significant declines in construction, manufacturing and retailing.

The New York Times

However, Polk said the figure was difficult to square with more negative signs emerging from other parts of the economy.

The Guardian

"There are days you come in and you find two positive signs, and the next day you come in and find three negative signs".

The New York Times

With a wave of negative signs gathering force, economists, policy makers and investors are debating just how much the economy could be damaged in 2008.

The New York Times

Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank, said that there were some "clearly less negative" signs, but that the recession continued.

The New York Times

Our panel discussed how to spot negative signs of stress in yourself and in your employees, and how to manage stressful periods of work.

The Guardian

There are a lot of negative signs with numbers for us and yet, where we're sitting makes me feel good, for sure".

The New York Times - Sports

However, the negative signs are line with economic theory.

IZA Journal of Migration

Complete agreement exists among authors that the positive and negative signs of chirality of sigmoids and coronal arcades correspond respectively to positive and negative signs of helicity.

Advances in Space Research

Warm and cold colors represent positive and negative signs, signifying facilitated or suppressed fault slip, respectively.

Earth, Planets and Space

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "negative signs" to describe indicators in reports, presentations, and publications related to finance, science, and general media.

Common error

While "negative signs" is technically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for more natural alternatives like "bad signs" or "red flags" when speaking informally.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "negative signs" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It denotes indicators or symbols signifying a negative value, trend, or condition. Ludwig confirms its usage across different domains, demonstrating its versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "negative signs" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression, particularly in science and news media. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions primarily as a noun phrase, serving to indicate adverse trends, mathematical values, or potential problems. While versatile, it's best to use it in formal or neutral contexts, opting for alternatives in more casual settings. When writing with "negative signs", clarity and context are key to ensure accurate interpretation. Consider using "unfavorable indicators", "adverse signals", or "red flags" depending on the audience and desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfavorable indicators

Replaces "signs" with "indicators", focusing on the role of the phrase as a signal.

adverse signals

Uses "adverse" instead of "negative", emphasizing the harmful nature of the signs, and replaces "signs" with "signals".

detrimental indicators

Emphasizes the damaging or harmful aspect of the signs.

warning signs

Implies a potential danger or problem, focusing on predictive aspect.

unpromising signals

Highlights a lack of positive prospects or potential.

red flags

Informal idiom indicating potential problems or dangers.

downward trends

Focuses on a negative direction or movement, often in economic or statistical contexts.

troubling symptoms

Used in a context of health, economy, or other complex systems where indicators are not just signs but also effects of a disease or malfunctions.

minus signs

Specifically refers to the mathematical symbol indicating a negative value.

poor omens

More figurative, suggesting a bad future outcome.

FAQs

How can "negative signs" be used in a sentence?

You can use "negative signs" to describe indicators of a problem or a downward trend, as in "The company's declining sales are "negative signs" for its future prospects" or to refer to a mathematical operator as in "Remember to include the "negative signs" when calculating the result".

Are there more casual alternatives to "negative signs"?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use more casual alternatives like "red flags" or "bad signs". However, "negative signs" is appropriate for formal or technical contexts.

In math, what is another name for "negative signs"?

In mathematical contexts, "minus signs" is a direct substitute for "negative signs".

What does it mean when a coefficient has a "negative sign" in statistical analysis?

In statistical analysis, a "negative sign" on a coefficient indicates an inverse relationship between the independent and dependent variables. As the independent variable increases, the dependent variable tends to decrease.