a detrimental effect — harmful effect (formal/academic)
collocationC1IELTS 7+formaloccasional
a negative or damaging impact on someone or something, especially used in formal, academic, or professional contexts.
Say it like a native
Textbook Smoking exerts a detrimental effect upon one's pulmonary health.
Native Smoking's really bad for your lungs.
'A detrimental effect on' is academic/report register; in speech natives just say 'bad for'.
Pattern: have/produce/cause a detrimental effect (on something/someone)
In use
- 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
Common mistake
✗ Stress has a detrimental effect to your health.
✓ Stress has a detrimental effect on your health.
It's 'a detrimental effect ON something', never 'to'.
Common collocations
a detrimental effect on— health, the environment, performance, development
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.