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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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a damage that

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a damage that" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "damage" is an uncountable noun and should not be preceded by "a." Example: "The damage that occurred during the storm was extensive."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

This view of nature you have stated admirably [is] admitted by all naturalists & denied by no one of common sense.... [But] the crown & glory of organic science that it does... link material to moral... Were it possible (which thank God it is not) to break it, humanity in my mind, would suffer a damage that might brutalize it--& sink the human race into... degradation.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Therefore, these observations once again indicated that GCE altered RNA and DNA, as was observed with the other Bifidobacterium strains tested in this study, although the change was less pronounced for this strain, and reported for other bacteria elsewhere, a damage that may eventually lead to cessation of growth or microbial death.

First quandary: They celebrated that you were a Jet Ski rental guy to ken where to probe for damages because they'd found a damage that no one would search for.

News & Media

Vice

Indeed, it was suggested [ 44] that "Extrapolation of the [ Trp73−/−] mouse brain defect on the human brain would predict a substantial reduction of primary visual cortex and occipitotemporal association areas, a damage that, combined with the entorhinal malformation, would lead to severe cognitive disabilities and mental retardation".

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A promise to undo any damage that four years of a Trump administration could inflict on this country.

News & Media

Huffington Post

It's just a lot of damage that's been done.

I guess the rain caused a lot of damage that affected the unit.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Well, yes, I ventured, "but there's a lot of damage that comes from hiding".

News & Media

Huffington Post

Microscopic examination of wings infected by G. destructans reveals a degree of damage that suggests functional impairment.

This disease is characterized by a progressive cell damage that targets the choroid, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and retina.

Other complications included heart problems and a kind of muscle damage that could lead to kidney failure, the agency said.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "damage" without the article "a" when referring to it in a general sense. Instead of "a damage", use "damage". For example, "The damage that the storm caused was significant".

Common error

Avoid using the indefinite article "a" before "damage". "Damage" is an uncountable noun, and using "a" suggests it is countable. Reword to eliminate "a damage" or replace it with "some damage".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a damage that" is grammatically questionable. Its intended function is to act as a noun phrase, modifying a subsequent clause. However, as indicated by Ludwig AI, "damage" is generally uncountable and should not be preceded by the indefinite article "a". The presence of examples does not override the general grammatical rule.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a damage that" appears in some sources, it is considered grammatically incorrect because "damage" is generally an uncountable noun. Ludwig AI underscores this point. More appropriate alternatives include ""damage that"", ""the damage caused by"", or ""the harm that"". Although the existing examples come from reputable news and science sources, using a grammatically correct alternative improves clarity and credibility. Therefore, it's best to avoid using "a damage that" in formal writing.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "a damage"?

No, it is generally incorrect to use the indefinite article "a" before "damage" because "damage" is an uncountable noun. You should say "damage" without the article.

What is a more grammatically correct way to say "a damage that"?

Instead of "a damage that", use alternatives like "damage that", "the damage caused by", or "the harm that".

When can I use "a" before a word related to damage?

You can use "a" before words like "injury" or "loss", which are countable nouns. For example, "a significant injury" or "a considerable loss".

What is the difference between "damage" and "a damage"?

"Damage" refers to harm or injury in general, while the phrase "a damage" is typically grammatically incorrect. Using "damage" without "a" is the standard and correct form.

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Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: