undermine the quality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undermine the quality" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to suggest that something decreases the quality of something else. For example: The emphasis on quantity rather than quality has been known to undermine the quality of products.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

"We need to strengthen, not undermine, the quality and professionalism of teaching.

The Guardian

That isn't to undermine the quality of this morbid picture book turned disturbed nightmare.

The Guardian - Tech

Part of the problem is simply that thinking about time encourages clockwatching, which has been repeatedly shown in studies to undermine the quality of work.

The Guardian - Tech

Forcing lenders to use outside appraisers could undermine the quality and reliability of valuations and could raise costs for consumers, he said.

The New York Times

The removal of this bursary would add unnecessary financial pressures on to student social workers and could undermine the quality of their learning.

The Guardian

More radical moves, like dropping the sports section, have been rejected because they would undermine the quality of The Times or would not save much money, Keller said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Put another way: does the scandal have the potential to undermine the qualities that made the candidate successful?

The New York Times

NEW YORK TIMES   For Venture Capital, Success Comes With Risks  |  The venture capital industry has seen such sizable returns that it now faces a dilemma once familiar to private equity firms and investment banks, where growth may undermine the qualities that brought success in the first place, writes John Gapper in a column in The Financial Times.

The New York Times

The government is also undermining the quality of childcare.

The Guardian - Opinion

Controlled assessment, which counted for 60% of English, undermined the quality of the qualification overall.

The Guardian

The public pays in other ways, too: turnover is high, undermining the quality of care and driving up overall costs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "undermine the quality", ensure you clearly identify what action or factor is causing the quality to diminish. This provides context and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "undermine the quality" as a vague criticism. Instead, provide specific examples or evidence to support your claim about the decline in quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undermine the quality" functions as a verb phrase used to express an action that negatively affects or diminishes the standard or value of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is grammatically sound and widely recognized.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undermine the quality" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe actions that diminish the value or standard of something. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and widespread usage. Analysis of example sentences reveals that it is frequently used in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. Alternatives such as "degrade the quality" or "weaken the quality" offer similar meanings with slight variations in nuance. When using "undermine the quality", it's crucial to provide specific context and evidence to support your claims. Avoiding vague or unsupported statements will enhance the impact and credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

degrade the quality

Replaces "undermine" with "degrade", suggesting a lowering of quality, often to an inferior state.

diminish the quality

Uses "diminish" instead of "undermine", implying a reduction in the extent or degree of quality.

weaken the quality

Substitutes "undermine" with "weaken", suggesting a loss of strength or effectiveness in quality.

impair the quality

Replaces "undermine" with "impair", indicating a damage or weakening of the quality.

reduce the quality

Uses "reduce" which is more straightforward and less suggestive than undermine; focuses on the act of lessening something.

compromise the quality

Suggests that the quality is being put at risk, often due to a negotiation or concession.

lessen the quality

Similar to reduce but emphasizes a gradual decline.

erode the quality

Implies a gradual and destructive process that wears away the quality over time.

detract from the quality

Changes the structure to highlight how something takes away from the existing quality.

tarnish the quality

Implies a loss of luster or reputation of the quality, like tarnishing metal.

FAQs

How can I use "undermine the quality" in a sentence?

You can use "undermine the quality" to describe actions or factors that diminish the value or standard of something. For example, "Cutting funding for education can "undermine the quality" of learning outcomes."

What are some alternatives to saying "undermine the quality"?

You can use alternatives such as "degrade the quality", "diminish the quality", or "weaken the quality" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean to "undermine the quality" of something?

To "undermine the quality" of something means to gradually weaken or degrade its value, standard, or effectiveness. It implies a negative impact that reduces its overall worth.

Is it better to use "undermine the quality" or "improve the quality" in opposite contexts?

While "undermine the quality" indicates a reduction in quality, the opposite is "improve the quality". Each phrase should be used when precision in conveying meaning is paramount.