undesirable outcomes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undesirable outcomes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing negative results or consequences of a particular action or decision. Example: "The new policy may lead to several undesirable outcomes that could affect employee morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Clearly, these are undesirable outcomes.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the meantime, the Labour government would have achieved all sorts of undesirable outcomes.

The Guardian

In theory, at least, this selectivity meant that the drug would have fewer undesirable outcomes.

The New Yorker

The organisation also said there are "undesirable outcomes" of wearing helmets, including not as many people wanting to ride (meaning less physical activity) and drivers being more cavalier on the road.

The Guardian

The actions taken by policymakers to shield the UK from the worst of the recession have been effective but they have led to some odd and undesirable outcomes for a nation running record levels of household debt.

The Guardian - Business

Dr. Weissman said undesirable outcomes like a mouse with a brain made of human cells or a mouse that generated human sperm could be avoided by deleting certain genes from the human cells before injecting them into a mouse.

The New York Times

Such factors interfere with open communication, impede the sharing of lessons learned, cause duplication and unnecessary expenditure of resources, prompt resistance to external advice and create a burden for managers, among other undesirable outcomes.

The New York Times

Move less and you increase your risk of premature death and other undesirable outcomes, even if your cholesterol is under control.

The New York Times

"Doctors don't want their names to be associated with failure," he said, adding that as a result of that, some medical partners briefly stopped approving riskier treatments as a way to avoid more undesirable outcomes.

The New York Times

In response to the Great Depression, John Maynard Keynes developed the revolutionary idea that individually beneficial actions could produce undesirable outcomes if everyone tried to do them at the same time.

The Economist

Transit oriented development (TOD) has been identified as a key planning tool to limit sprawl development and thereby to tackle a range of undesirable outcomes of cities.

Journal of Transport Geography

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "undesirable outcomes" to introduce a discussion of mitigation strategies. Clearly identifying potential negative results allows you to proactively address them.

Common error

While "undesirable outcomes" is widely applicable, avoid using it excessively in casual conversation. Simpler terms like "bad results" or "negative effects" may be more appropriate in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undesirable outcomes" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. It refers to results or consequences that are considered negative or unwanted. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "undesirable outcomes" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase to describe negative consequences across various fields. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its use is correct in written English. It's particularly common in science, news, and formal business contexts. For less formal situations, consider alternatives like "negative consequences" or "adverse effects". When using this phrase, be specific about which outcomes are undesirable and why, and be mindful of overuse in casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Negative consequences

Focuses on the result being bad or adverse.

Adverse effects

Emphasizes the harmful or unfavorable nature of the results.

Unfavorable results

Highlights that the results are not positive or advantageous.

Detrimental effects

Stresses the damaging or harmful impact of the outcomes.

Unintended consequences

Indicates that the outcomes were not planned or expected.

Poor results

Indicates a low quality outcome.

Unwanted results

Highlights that the results were not desired.

Damaging outcomes

Focuses on the damage caused by the results.

Suboptimal results

Indicates that the results are less than the best or ideal.

Unpleasant effects

Emphasizes the disagreeable or displeasing nature of the results.

FAQs

How can I use "undesirable outcomes" in a sentence?

You can use "undesirable outcomes" to describe the negative consequences of an action or decision. For example, "The policy changes led to several "undesirable outcomes" for the employees".

What are some alternatives to "undesirable outcomes"?

Alternatives include "negative consequences", "adverse effects", or "unfavorable results", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "undesirable outcomes" and "unintended consequences"?

"Undesirable outcomes" refers to any negative result, while "unintended consequences" specifically refers to outcomes that were not planned or expected. All unintended consequences are undesirable outcomes, but not all undesirable outcomes are unintended.

In what contexts is "undesirable outcomes" most appropriate?

"Undesirable outcomes" is suitable for formal and professional contexts, such as reports, presentations, and academic papers. It is also common in news articles discussing the effects of policies or events.