Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
negatively influence
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"negatively influence" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to have a detrimental or harmful effect on something or someone. Example: The media's portrayal of unrealistic beauty standards can negatively influence young girls' self-esteem and body image.
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Formal & Business
Alternative expressions(19)
adversely affect
detrimentally impact
have a harmful effect on
harmful effect on
badly affect
have a damaging impact on
impair
undermine
damage
aggravate
spoil
seriously influence
badly influence
heavily influence
severely influence
critically influence
detrimentally influence
negatively impact
negatively influencing
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
These results suggest that a company's negative reputation negatively influence consumers' brand attitude and purchase intention.
Science
Do you ever fear the constant juicing and partying depicted in your book will negatively influence children?
News & Media
However, high biological and chemical pollutions negatively influence this exploitation.
These effects can negatively influence VANET end-to-end performance.
Unfortunately, this unit operation may negatively influence product quality.
These properties can positively or negatively influence the vascular system.
Science
Pigments, lubricants, and mold release agents negatively influence welding.
This week Facebook has been dogged by claims of election interference and its potential to negatively influence people.
News & Media
Comorbidities hinder management and negatively influence outcomes, more so when they are unrecognized.
The results clearly demonstrate that RCC's accumulate during ageing and negatively influence on seed vigour.
Science
It should be noticed that the higher EV penetration levels will negatively influence the consumers' convenience.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "negatively influence", ensure the subject and object of the influence are clearly stated to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify what is being negatively influenced by what.
Common error
Avoid phrasing sentences with "negatively influence" in a way that obscures the actor causing the negative influence. Use active voice to clearly identify the source of the negative impact.
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "negatively influence" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of exerting a detrimental effect on something. As supported by Ludwig, it describes how one thing adversely affects another. The phrase is widely used to convey negative causation or impact.
Frequent in
Science
60%
News & Media
20%
Formal & Business
10%
Less common in
Academia
5%
Encyclopedias
2%
Wiki
3%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "negatively influence" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something has a detrimental effect on something else. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of exerting a harmful influence. It's used across various contexts, including science, news, and business, with a generally neutral to formal register. When using "negatively influence", ensure clarity by specifying what is being negatively influenced by what, and avoid overuse of the passive voice. Synonyms include "adversely affect" and "detrimentally impact". Remember, it is important to consider the subtlety you are trying to express, as "affect" typically refers to producing a change, while "influence" implies a more subtle or indirect effect.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
adversely affect
Replaces "influence" with "affect" and "negatively" with "adversely", maintaining a formal tone.
detrimentally impact
Substitutes "negatively influence" with a more emphatic phrase, suggesting a significant negative consequence.
harmful effect on
Replaces the verb "influence" with a noun phrase, focusing on the damaging nature of the effect.
badly affect
Uses a simpler, more direct word choice than "negatively influence".
have a damaging impact on
Emphasizes the destructive nature of the influence, using a more descriptive phrase.
impair
A concise verb replacing "negatively influence", implying a weakening or diminishing effect.
undermine
Suggests a gradual weakening or subversion, rather than a direct influence.
damage
Focuses on the tangible harm caused, rather than the abstract idea of influence.
aggravate
Suggests making an existing problem worse, rather than initiating a negative influence.
spoil
Informal way to express a negative influence, generally for pleasure/well-being related contexts.
FAQs
How can I use "negatively influence" in a sentence?
Use "negatively influence" to describe something that has a detrimental effect on something else. For instance, "Lack of sleep can "negatively influence" your cognitive functions."
What are some synonyms for "negatively influence"?
Alternatives include "adversely affect", "detrimentally impact", or "have a harmful effect on" depending on the specific context.
Is it better to say "negatively affect" or "negatively influence"?
"Negatively affect" and "negatively influence" are often interchangeable, but "affect" typically refers to producing a change, while "influence" implies a more subtle or indirect effect. Choose the word that best fits the nuance you intend.
What's the difference between "negatively influence" and "positively influence"?
"Negatively influence" means to have a detrimental impact, whereas "positively influence" means to have a beneficial impact. They are antonyms, describing opposite effects.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested