a big harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a big harm" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when discussing significant negative impacts or consequences of an action or event. Example: "The decision to cut funding for the program will cause a big harm to the community's well-being."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Matt Noffs told me that when "Howard launched the tough-on-drugs policy, it was actually a big harm reduction and re-education policy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Those little lies can cause big harm, she said.

The Washington Post

Thankfully, this mistake can be fixed before it causes big harm -- either by Congress this year or the administration itself next year.

The Washington Post

"This may save steel industry jobs, but this may cause very big harm to the steel consuming industry," said Tadaaki Yamaguchi, the president of JFE Steel America, a Japanese company that supplies steel to its sister company in California, which turns that into small-diameter oil industry pipe.

The Washington Post

Fortunately, our universe has provided gamma-ray bursts as a convenient early-warning system which, like a canary in a coal mine, might alert us long before a Big Snap could harm us.

Huffington Post

"You can lose this window of opportunity, and the biggest harm you can do to a child with medulloblastoma is to not cure them when you should be curing them.

Independent

However, the bigger harm is not that we expose ourselves to a collapse, but that we allow ourselves and foreigners to underestimate, even mock, our economic system.

Forbes

"The biggest harm he is doing to the country is the way he is reaching power".

The New York Times

My biggest harm I do to myself is I put all this pressure on myself".

The Guardian - Film

"The biggest harm here is that immigration lawyers have traditionally been the only real bridge between immigrants coming to this country and the American dream," Mr. Tarin said.

The New York Times

Snowden's biggest harm to US isn't outing secret program, but politically neutering US response to China's far more serious hacking campaign — Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) 13 Jun 13 There were plenty of accusations on China's lively Weibos, or microblogs, of "hypocrisy" by the United States, the English-language Post reported.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a big harm", consider stronger alternatives like "significant damage" or "substantial negative impact" for increased clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "big" excessively as an intensifier. Overusing it can weaken your writing. Opt for more precise and descriptive words that accurately reflect the severity of the harm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a big harm" functions as a noun phrase, identifying a significant negative consequence or damage. While grammatically sound, Ludwig suggests alternatives may provide greater clarity and impact.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a big harm" is used to describe a significant negative impact or damage. While grammatically correct, Ludwig AI points out that it's not the most common or impactful choice. Sources like The Guardian and The Washington Post use it, but alternatives such as "significant damage" or "substantial negative impact" might offer more precision. Keep in mind that overuse of "big" as an intensifier can weaken writing, so consider using more descriptive language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Extensive harm

Emphasizes the widespread nature of the harm.

Substantial negative impact

Replaces "harm" with a more descriptive phrase, emphasizing the extent of the negative effect.

Severe damage

Indicates a high degree of damage or harm.

Significant damage

Replaces "harm" with "damage" and uses "significant" for emphasis.

Major adverse effect

Emphasizes the negative impact as a primary effect.

Profound negative effect

Indicates a deep and far-reaching negative impact.

Considerable detriment

Uses more formal vocabulary to express substantial harm or disadvantage.

Serious repercussions

Focuses on the consequential nature of the harm.

Grave consequences

Highlights the severity and potential long-term effects of the harm.

Great injury

Highlights the significant level of injury caused.

FAQs

What does "a big harm" mean?

The phrase "a big harm" refers to a significant negative impact or damage caused by something.

How can I use "a big harm" in a sentence?

You can use "a big harm" to describe the consequences of an action, for example: "The decision to cut funding for the program will cause "a big harm" to the community's well-being."

What can I say instead of "a big harm"?

You can use alternatives like "significant damage", "substantial negative impact", or "major adverse effect" depending on the context.

Is "a big harm" grammatically correct?

While grammatically acceptable, "a big harm" is less common and can sound awkward. Consider using more precise alternatives for clarity.