Grammar fix
negative effect
bad impact
A result or influence that causes harm, problems, or makes a situation worse.
collocationB1common
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- Too much screen time can have a negative effect on your sleep.daily life
- In my opinion, pollution has a negative effect on people's quality of life, especially in big cities.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: have/cause/lead to a negative effect (on something)
WrongIt has a negative affect on sleep.
RightIt has a negative effect on sleep.
The noun is 'effect'; 'affect' is the verb (it affects your sleep).
Patternhave/cause/lead to a negative effect (on something)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Detrimental impact upon one's wellbeing' is essay-speak; 'negative effect on' is plain.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
a negative effect ona negative effect onhaveharmfulknock-on effect
Don't confuse it
The opposite is 'positive effect', which means something has a good or helpful result.