negligible influence

USAGE SUMMARY

"negligible influence" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe something that has little or no impact on the subject. For example, "The new policy had a negligible influence on public opinion."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Early 20th-century art movements had a negligible influence there before the 1920's.

The New York Times - Arts

If Twitter had negligible influence on events in Tunisia, the same could not be said for Egypt.

The Guardian

China has also pushed into Latin American countries where the United States has negligible influence, like Venezuela.

The New York Times

They found that this was not so: owners exerted a negligible influence on slant.

The Economist

PEG had negligible influence on the interfacial tension of the emulsion.

Food Hydrocolloids

The co-existing anions (SO42−, NO3− and Cl−) had negligible influence on phosphorus removal.

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

Genistein also had a negligible influence on variation in blood viscosity.

Parasitology International

It appears that vegetation has a negligible influence over estimated Hv.

Remote Sensing of Environment

He observed that in a "commercial society" each individual is driven by self-interest and can exert only a negligible influence on prices.

Britannica

The area is accessible by train (electrically driven) which stops some 500 m away, which has mostly a negligible influence on the aerosol measurements30,31.

Nature

Compared with the vital hands-on role he'd held in the restaurant business, Ko realized he exerted negligible influence on Coca-Cola's vast operations and decision-making processes.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "negligible influence" with precise verbs to enhance the impact of your writing. For example, instead of "had a negligible influence", consider "exerted a negligible influence" or "demonstrated negligible influence".

Common error

A common mistake is to use "negligible influence" when the impact is actually significant but subtle. Always verify that the effect truly is minimal and not simply difficult to detect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "negligible influence" functions as a modifier describing the extent to which something affects or changes something else. As confirmed by Ludwig, it indicates that the effect is so small as to be practically nonexistent. It is commonly used to downplay the importance of a particular factor.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

18%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "negligible influence" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig. It describes something having little to no impact on a particular outcome. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it serves to downplay the significance of certain factors. While alternatives like "minimal impact" and "insignificant effect" exist, "negligible influence" maintains a specific nuance of near-zero effect. It's crucial to ensure the context supports the claim of minimal impact, avoiding its misuse when the effect is simply subtle or difficult to measure. When precision matters, pairing "negligible influence" with verbs such as "exerted" or "demonstrated" can strengthen the impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimal impact

Replaces "influence" with "impact", focusing on the effect or result.

insignificant effect

Substitutes "negligible" with "insignificant" and "influence" with "effect", both conveying a lack of importance.

trivial impact

Uses "trivial" to emphasize the lack of importance of the impact.

limited effect

Indicates that the effect is small and constrained.

minor influence

Replaces "negligible" with "minor", indicating a small degree of influence.

inconsequential effect

Highlights that the effect is not worth considering.

slight impact

Emphasizes the small degree of the impact.

virtually no influence

Uses "virtually no" to stress the almost complete absence of influence.

scarcely any effect

Highlights that the effect is barely noticeable.

almost no impact

Indicates an effect that is close to zero.

FAQs

How can I use "negligible influence" in a sentence?

You can use "negligible influence" to describe something that has very little to no effect on something else. For example, "The amount of rainfall had a negligible influence on the outcome of the experiment."

What are some alternatives to "negligible influence"?

Alternatives include "minimal impact", "insignificant effect", or "trivial impact". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "negligible impact" instead of "negligible influence"?

Yes, "negligible impact" is a perfectly acceptable alternative and is often used interchangeably with "negligible influence". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "negligible influence" and "small influence"?

"Negligible influence" suggests an almost nonexistent effect, whereas "small influence" implies that there is some effect, but it is not substantial. The term "small influence" indicates a minor but present effect.