Collateral damages

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Collateral damages" is not correct; the correct term is "collateral damage." You can use it to refer to unintended damage or casualties that occur as a result of an action, typically in a military or conflict context.
Example: "The airstrike resulted in significant collateral damage, affecting nearby civilian structures."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

To watch "The First 24 Hours" and "Collateral Damages" today is a purging experience.

The New York Times

Yet Russano observed "collateral damages" — the confession rate among innocents tripled.

The New Yorker

Two documentaries, "Collateral Damages" and "The First 24 Hours," both by Étienne Sauret, return to the primal events.

The New York Times

The most moving aspect of "Collateral Damages" is the firefighters' sense of brotherhood and duty to their jobs.

The New York Times

The EP&L can already serve as an important tool to help this shift in commerce, from generating profits with collateral damages to profits with collateral benefits.

The Guardian

Shown with "Collateral Damages" and a four-minute short, Zbigniew Rybczynski's "Imagine," at the Film Forum, 209 West Houston Street, west of Sixth Avenue, South Village.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

"I'm collateral damage".

The New York Times

Call it collateral damage.

The Economist

Collateral power, collateral damage.

The New York Times - Magazine

Rockets inflict collateral damage.

The Guardian - Opinion

Collateral damage, for example.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the singular form "collateral damage" to refer to unintended harm or casualties resulting from an action. It's the grammatically correct and widely accepted form.

Common error

Remember that "collateral damage" is typically used as an uncountable noun. Avoid using the plural form "collateral damages", as it's generally considered incorrect. Instead, focus on quantifying the damage, such as "the extent of collateral damage was significant".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collateral damages" is intended to function as a noun phrase, referring to unintended or accidental damage. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form is the singular "collateral damage."

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "collateral damages" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct and accepted form is "collateral damage", which refers to unintended harm or casualties resulting from an action. Ludwig AI supports this conclusion, emphasizing that the singular form is the standard usage. Remember to use "collateral damage" to accurately describe unintended negative consequences, especially in formal or neutral contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unintended consequences

Focuses on the results of an action that were not planned or predicted, shifting the emphasis from damage to outcomes.

Inadvertent damage

Underscores that the damage was not the intended result, highlighting the lack of intention.

Accidental harm

Highlights the unintentional nature of the harm caused, simplifying the legal or military connotations.

Peripheral damage

Highlights that the damage occurred on the edges or outside the main area of impact, signifying a less central effect.

Incidental losses

Emphasizes the secondary or subordinate nature of the losses in relation to the main objective or event.

Indirect consequences

Specifies that the consequences are not a direct result, but rather a more distant outcome of the initial action.

Unforeseen repercussions

Stresses the surprise element of the effects following an action, particularly if those effects are negative.

Knock-on effects

Implies a chain reaction where the primary action leads to a series of further, often unintended, effects.

Side effects

Draws a parallel with medical or pharmaceutical contexts, where unintended effects can accompany the intended benefits.

Unavoidable casualties

Suggests that the losses were impossible to prevent, particularly in situations like warfare or large-scale operations.

FAQs

What is the correct grammatical form, "collateral damage" or "collateral damages"?

The correct grammatical form is "collateral damage". The term is generally used as an uncountable noun, so the plural form, "collateral damages", is typically considered incorrect.

How can I use "collateral damage" in a sentence?

You can use "collateral damage" to describe unintended harm or casualties that occur as a result of an action. For example: "The military operation caused significant "collateral damage" to civilian infrastructure."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "collateral damage"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "unintended consequences", "accidental harm", or "incidental losses" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "collateral damage" only used in military contexts?

While often used in military or conflict-related contexts, "collateral damage" can also apply to other situations where unintended negative consequences occur. For instance, a business decision might have "unforeseen repercussions" that could be described as "collateral damage".