severe influence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severe influence" is not commonly used in written English and may not convey the intended meaning clearly.
It could be used in contexts where you want to describe a strong or intense impact, but "severe" typically relates to conditions or situations rather than influence. Example: "The severe influence of social media on public opinion cannot be ignored."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

For those who are not clear, that means not being under the severe influence of alcohol.

The Guardian

Coupled heat and moisture transfer has a severe influence on building envelop durability.

Energy and Buildings

A severe influence of the solar cell type, i.e. the metallization paste, could be shown.

Energy Procedia

A severe influence of insufficient buffer capacity in potentiodynamic surface oxide formation and reduction is experimentally shown, discussed and explained.

Electrochimica Acta

This could be due to scattering effects caused by the particle size of the material which has a severe influence on the feasibility of measurements in this setup.

Journal of Catalysis

The experiments in this section also underline the severe influence of the cold cathode on the reduction state of the STO substrate, as annealing for 1 h with an applied cold cathode gauge leads to no reoxidization at all.

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Type of fracture (wedge, biconcave, or compression) did not influence the results, but number of fractures (1, 2, 3 or more) and severity of fractures (mild, moderate, or severe) influenced the scores in women.

BMC Geriatrics

Seven composers were represented, and if their works shared certain characteristics — rhythmic complication, post-tonal harmonies and an aversion to Minimalist techniques — each score embraced less severe influences as well.

The New York Times - Arts

Compared with thenar muscles, more severe influences on hypothenar muscles were also found in patients with HD.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Because the proximity to edges influences several abiotic (micro-climate, windspeed, soil nutrients [ 24, 40]) and biotic (invasion of non-forest species, species composition [ 41]) aspects of the habitat, edge effects may have severe influences on forest structure [ 42, 43].

BMC Ecology

Responses were graded as mild (can be overlooked if I do not think about it), moderate (cannot be overlooked, but does not influence my lifestyle), or severe (influences my lifestyle).

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of something negative, consider using "severe impact" instead of "severe influence" for greater clarity and a more natural tone.

Common error

Avoid using "severe influence" when describing positive or neutral outcomes; "significant impact" or "strong effect" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severe influence" functions as a noun phrase, where "severe" modifies the noun "influence". It describes the intensity or degree of impact that something has. Examples provided by Ludwig show it referring to negative impacts, though other contexts may allow for a neutral interpretation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "severe influence" is an acceptable but not overly common way to describe a strong impact, often with negative connotations. According to Ludwig, while grammatically sound, it is often better to opt for alternatives like "significant impact" or "profound effect" for clarity and naturalness. The phrase is most frequently encountered in scientific and news contexts. When writing, remember to consider the tone you want to convey. While "severe influence" highlights intensity, be mindful of the potential negative implications and choose your words carefully to ensure your message is clear and precise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant impact

Replaces "influence" with "impact" and "severe" with "significant", focusing on the degree of effect.

profound effect

Substitutes "influence" with "effect" and "severe" with "profound", emphasizing depth of impact.

major impact

Replaces "severe" with "major", indicating a considerable effect or consequence.

strong effect

Substitutes "severe" with "strong", suggesting a powerful or potent effect.

considerable impact

Replaces "severe" with "considerable", indicating a noteworthy or substantial effect.

substantial effect

Uses "substantial" instead of "severe", conveying a significant or appreciable effect.

powerful influence

Replaces "severe" with "powerful", highlighting the strength of the impact.

marked impact

Substitutes "severe" with "marked", indicating a noticeable or distinct effect.

serious effect

Replaces "severe" with "serious", suggesting a grave or consequential effect.

critical influence

Replaces "severe" with "critical", highlighting the importance of the impact.

FAQs

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

You can use "severe influence" to describe something that has a powerful and often negative effect. For example, "The "severe influence of alcohol" can impair judgment."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "severe influence"?

Some alternatives include "significant impact", "profound effect", or "major impact", depending on the specific context.

Is "severe influence" the same as "strong influence"?

While similar, "severe influence" often implies a more negative or problematic effect than "strong influence", which can be neutral or positive.

What kind of impact does "severe influence" describe?

The phrase "severe influence" indicates a substantial and potentially detrimental impact, often implying challenges or negative consequences.