significant detriment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significant detriment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a considerable disadvantage or harm resulting from a particular action or situation. Example: "The new policy may lead to significant detriment for small businesses struggling to adapt to the changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

A group of academics, environmentalists and engineers, including Binnie, criticised the government's decision, warning it would "be of significant detriment to London's future growth, international reputation and prosperity".

The Guardian

A copy of its reasoning, seen by the Guardian, makes it clear that the OFT's main concern about any deal was also the future of 3. "The OFT considers that any weakening/elimination of Hutchison 3G would effectively result in a reduction of vertically integrated competitors from five to three and cause significant detriment to competition in mobile retail telephony," the document reads.

The Guardian - Business

"There is a tremendous amount of expertise at N.S.A.," said Amit Yoran, the former director of the cybersecurity division of the Homeland Security Department, "but I also agree that it would be a significant detriment to the nation to let the N.S.A. be the lead agency running cyberprograms.

The New York Times

In accordance to Katsura et al. [23], a consequent decrease of dose to the patient by a factor up to 7 (i.e. 80% dose reduction) seems, therefore, to be possible without producing any significant detriment to the images.

European Radiology Experimental

The finding that openness, which is associated with a desire for variety and change, appears to be a significant detriment to a stable marital arrangement suggests a re-interpretation of the "surprise" model of divorce.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

Despite the large sample size, the scientists were unable to detect any significant detriment in the coordination of the group watching in 3D, they report online today in Royal Society Open Science.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The results indicate that HRLAs can be cost-effective when they target behaviours associated with significant detriments to health.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

We hypothesize that in ASD sustained face gaze will be difficult and will cause significant detriments to cognitive performance (see Attwood, 1998) when compared to the effects seen in typical development.

Developmental Science

The recent report [ 7] of a significant mortality benefit in node-positive patients also noted a non-significant detriment in node-negative patients, with a non-significant overall mortality benefit.

Breast Cancer Research

And there's one more catch: charities can't suffer "significant" financial detriment because of their trustees' ethical qualms.

The Guardian

Despite identifying "significant consumer detriment", it decided it could not provide an "effective and proportionate remedy" to address the problems and abandoned all its suggested solutions, leaving it to the insurers and CHCs to sort it out among themselves.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significant detriment", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being harmed or disadvantaged, and that the impact is indeed substantial. Quantify the detriment if possible to strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "significant detriment" when the negative impact is minor or negligible. Overstating the detriment can weaken your argument and make you seem hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant detriment" functions as a noun phrase, where "significant" modifies the noun "detriment". According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable. It generally describes something that causes considerable disadvantage or harm.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "significant detriment" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a considerable disadvantage or harm. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It is commonly found in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. When writing, ensure the context clearly indicates what is being harmed and avoid overstating the impact. Consider alternatives like "considerable harm" or "substantial disadvantage" for nuanced meanings. The phrase serves to highlight potentially negative consequences and facilitate informed decision-making.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerable harm

Replaces "detriment" with a more direct synonym, "harm", maintaining the sense of substantial negative impact.

substantial disadvantage

Substitutes "detriment" with "disadvantage", focusing on the loss of advantage or benefit.

notable disadvantage

Uses "notable" instead of "significant", implying something worth paying attention to.

major drawback

Emphasizes a negative aspect that hinders progress or success, instead of direct harm.

substantial damage

Focuses specifically on the aspect of damage, be it physical or non-physical.

serious impairment

Highlights the damaging effect on function or condition; stronger than just a disadvantage.

considerable loss

Shifts the focus to what is lost as a result of the detriment.

marked decline

Indicates a noticeable decrease in quality or condition; less focused on the cause and more on the result.

palpable downside

Replaces 'detriment' with 'downside' and uses 'palpable' to suggest it is easily perceived.

appreciable setback

Focuses on the hindrance or delay caused, emphasizing the impact on progress.

FAQs

How can I use "significant detriment" in a sentence?

You can use "significant detriment" to describe a considerable disadvantage or harm resulting from a particular action or situation. For example: "The budget cuts caused "significant detriment" to the education system."

What are some alternatives to "significant detriment"?

Alternatives to "significant detriment" include "considerable harm", "substantial disadvantage", or "major drawback", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "significant harm" or "significant detriment"?

Both "significant harm" and "significant detriment" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Harm" implies direct damage, while "detriment" suggests a loss or disadvantage. Choose the word that best fits the context. Consider alternatives such as "substantial damage".

What is the difference between "significant detriment" and "minor inconvenience"?

"Significant detriment" describes a substantial negative impact, while "minor inconvenience" refers to a slight problem or difficulty. The key difference is the degree of impact. A "serious impairment" is very different than an inconvenience.