negative support

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "negative support" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where one refers to support that is detrimental or counterproductive. Example: "The negative support from his peers made it difficult for him to succeed in the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

But McCarthy believes that sort of negative support will benefit nobody.

The Guardian - Sport

It [the negative support] doesn't help," the manager said "Let's not give them any credit.

The Guardian - Sport

It can be seen, then, that Rawls' social and natural lotteries provide negative support of his theory of justice.

SEP

Papers testing multiple hypotheses were more likely to report a negative support for the first hypothesis they presented.

Plosone

It was determined how many papers reported a "positive" (full or partial) or "negative" support for the tested hypothesis.

Plosone

Positive PBS values indicate that a given dataset increases support for particular node whereas negative values show that data partition provides net negative support for the given node.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

All correlations were negative, supporting the proposed hypothesis.

Safety Science

US sentiment towards robots is often negative, supported by one-sided reports and studies of automation taking over the workforce.

TechCrunch

It also suggests that part of the papers that in this study were classified as "negative supports" were in fact reporting a positive result.

Plosone

When effect sizes are very small, however, a pure bias against non-significant results should not affect the direction of the outcome (i.e. both positive and negative supports should be published, as long as they are statistically significant) [48].

Plosone

The corresponding gene, SlKLUH, showed significant local D values (positive and negative), supporting a selective pressure around the gene [ 120].

BMC Plant Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of social interactions, clarify whether the support received is positive, neutral, or "negative support" to accurately portray its effect on the individual or group.

Common error

Avoid using "negative support" when you actually mean constructive criticism. "Negative support" implies unhelpful or harmful assistance, while constructive criticism aims to improve through feedback, even if it involves pointing out flaws.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "negative support" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "negative" modifies the noun "support". It describes a type of support that has a detrimental or unhelpful effect. As Ludwig AI shows, it is often used in scientific and media contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

19%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "negative support" is a common phrase used to describe assistance that is, paradoxically, detrimental or unhelpful. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, especially within scientific and media spheres. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, understanding its implications is crucial to avoid misinterpretations. Instead of offering genuine assistance, "negative support" undermines progress. Therefore, when aiming to assist, ensure that the backing provided contributes positively rather than hindering efforts. Alternatives like "detrimental assistance" or "counterproductive aid" might provide more clarity depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

detrimental assistance

Replaces "negative" with "detrimental" emphasizing the harmful aspect of the support.

unhelpful backing

Substitutes "negative" with "unhelpful" and "support" with "backing", focusing on the lack of benefit from the assistance.

counterproductive aid

Replaces "support" with "aid" and "negative" with "counterproductive", highlighting that the assistance hinders progress.

harmful assistance

Emphasizes the damaging nature of the support by using "harmful" instead of "negative".

adverse encouragement

Uses "adverse" instead of "negative" and "encouragement" in place of support indicating unfavorable influence.

damaging assistance

Replaces "negative" with "damaging", emphasizing the potential harm caused by the support.

inhibiting support

Focuses on the restrictive nature of the support using "inhibiting" instead of "negative".

unfavorable assistance

Replaces "negative" with "unfavorable", indicating a lack of approval or benefit from the support.

hindering assistance

Highlights that the support is creating difficulties by using "hindering" instead of "negative".

obstructive backing

Uses "obstructive" instead of "negative" and "backing" instead of support, emphasizing the hindering nature.

FAQs

How can "negative support" impact a team or individual?

"Negative support" can undermine confidence, create conflict, and ultimately hinder progress, as opposed to providing constructive assistance.

What are some alternatives to "negative support"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "detrimental assistance", "unhelpful backing", or "counterproductive aid".

Is "negative support" the same as lacking support?

No, "negative support" implies active behavior that is harmful, whereas a lack of support simply means the absence of assistance. They are distinct concepts.

How do I identify if I'm receiving "negative support"?

Consider whether the actions or words of others consistently undermine your efforts, create obstacles, or leave you feeling less capable. This can be indicative of "negative support".