SpeakUp

Grammar fix

a detrimental effect

harmful effect (formal/academic)

a negative or damaging impact on someone or something, especially used in formal, academic, or professional contexts.

collocationC1occasional

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • The new policy had a detrimental effect on employee morale.daily life
  • In my opinion, excessive screen time can have a detrimental effect on children's social skills and overall well-being.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: have/produce/cause a detrimental effect (on something/someone)

WrongStress has a detrimental effect to your health.

RightStress has a detrimental effect on your health.

It's 'a detrimental effect ON something', never 'to'.

Patternhave/produce/cause a detrimental effect (on something/someone)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff Smoking exerts a detrimental effect upon one's pulmonary health.

Natural Smoking's really bad for your lungs.

'A detrimental effect on' is academic/report register; in speech natives just say 'bad for'.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • a detrimental effect on
    healththe environmentperformancedevelopment

Don't confuse it

Unlike 'a negative effect', which is more general and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, 'a detrimental effect' is more formal and specifically emphasizes harm or damage.

Try it in Daily Speak →