severe effect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severe effect" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a strong or intense impact or consequence of an action or event. Example: "The severe effect of the storm was evident in the widespread damage to homes and infrastructure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The economic downturn has had a severe effect on several of its industries, especially auto and construction.

Forbes

Severity scores; 1 = little effect, 2 = moderate effect and 3 = severe effect.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The invasions have another particularly severe effect on the ground.

The New York Times - Science

"There has been a very severe effect on civilians," Mr. Bowers said.

The New York Times

When inflation went up to 5.2% after the crash, that had a severe effect on people, he says.

The Guardian

"Industrial fishing of species is having a severe effect on numbers of this species and its capacity to recover.

The Guardian

Because cotton garments are labor intensive, the loss of sales has had a severe effect on employment.

The New York Times

But the global recession has had a severe effect on tax havens – even those close to home.

The Guardian - Business

That was a much less severe effect than the previous estimate of 179,000 jobs lost.

The New York Times

The New Yorker, February 25 , 1974P. 111 U.S. JOURNAL about the severe effect of crime on tourism in St . Croix

The New Yorker

By Calvin Trillin The New Yorker, February 25 , 1974P. 111 U.S. JOURNAL about the severe effect of crime on tourism in St . Croix

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "severe effect", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being affected and the specific nature of the severity. Provide quantifiable details or descriptive examples to illustrate the extent of the impact.

Common error

Avoid using "severe effect" as a generic descriptor. Instead of simply stating that something has a "severe effect", specify how it is severe, on what, and to what degree. For example, instead of "The policy had a severe effect", try "The policy led to a 30% reduction in employment rates in the manufacturing sector".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severe effect" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb (e.g., 'has a severe effect') or the subject complement. Ludwig shows its correct usage in various sentences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

53%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "severe effect" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe a strong or intense impact. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used in both News & Media and Scientific contexts, with a more objective tone. While alternatives such as "serious impact" and "significant consequence" exist, "severe effect" emphasizes a higher degree of intensity. When using this phrase, providing specific details about the impact's nature and scope enhances clarity and avoids generic descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serious impact

Replaces "severe" with "serious", indicating a grave or significant consequence.

significant consequence

Uses "significant" instead of "severe", focusing on the importance of the outcome.

major impact

Substitutes "severe" with "major", highlighting the substantial influence.

profound effect

Replaces "severe" with "profound", emphasizing the depth and intensity of the effect.

devastating impact

Emphasizes the destructive nature of the impact.

critical consequence

Highlights the crucial and decisive nature of the consequence.

grave repercussions

Uses "grave repercussions" to suggest serious and far-reaching consequences.

harsh outcome

Focuses on the unpleasant and difficult nature of the result.

radical influence

Indicates a fundamental and transformative impact.

noticeable outcome

Highlights that the outcome is easily observed.

FAQs

How can I use "severe effect" in a sentence?

The phrase "severe effect" is used to describe a strong, intense, or serious impact. For example, "The economic downturn had a "severe effect" on small businesses".

What are some alternatives to "severe effect"?

Alternatives include "serious impact", "significant consequence", or "profound effect". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "severe effect" or "serious effect"?

Both "severe effect" and "serious effect" are grammatically correct and convey a strong impact. "Severe" suggests a greater intensity or extremity than "serious", thus, "severe effect" is more appropriate when emphasizing the intensity.

What kind of words can I use to describe what's producing a "severe effect"?

You can use words like "economic downturn", "policy changes", "natural disasters", or "traumatic events" to describe situations or events producing a "severe effect".