acknowledge harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acknowledge harm" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the recognition of damage or injury caused by actions or events, often in contexts related to social issues, personal relationships, or environmental concerns. Example: "It is essential for organizations to acknowledge harm caused by their practices to foster trust and accountability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It comprehensively fails to acknowledge harm reduction and regulatory innovations – many of them successful – taking place around the world.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Nor did Cardinal Egan acknowledge any harm to the church as a whole from the scandal, as Bishop Daily did.

The New York Times

The women welcomed the Met's "long overdue" move and called on Scotland Yard to "stop prevaricating and acknowledge the harm done by the officers".

The Guardian

"Telling the Truth, Facing the Whip," by Mansour al-Nogaidan (Op-Ed, Nov. 28), calls for Saudi Arabia to acknowledge the harm caused by its religious extremism.

The New York Times

The National Indian Health Board, an advocacy group serving the 566 federally recognized tribes, calls on Congress to acknowledge the harm that health care cuts are having on tribal communities and to exempt the Indian Health Service, a federal agency, from further reductions.

The New York Times

Abusive parents often do not set out to be abusive, may themselves be subject to significant personal adversity and indeed often find it hard to even acknowledge the harm they have done.

The Guardian

But solutionists aren't always so quick to acknowledge the harm as well as the good done by technology; the sometimes disturbing behaviour enabled in an ever-more connected world, the unexpected consequences even of welcome innovations.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even those who mistrust Mr Snowden and his allies, who contest the inferences drawn from the leaks, and defend the role of the NSA, acknowledge the harm done by the supposedly super-secret agency's inability to keep its own systems secure.The most immediate damage is to America's leading technology firms.

The Economist

Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Vatican's council for peace and justice, said: "The first step is to humbly acknowledge the harm we are doing to the Earth through pollution, the scandalous destruction of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity, and the spectre of climate change.

The Guardian

This arrangement will continue in England, but in Scotland this is changing to a £50,000 lump sum when joining the new payment scheme and a further £20,000 when someone progresses to the more serious stage of Hep C. Governments in Wales and Northern Ireland have still to determine how they might change schemes designed to acknowledge the harm done in the 1970s and 80s.

The Guardian

"The New York Times Company appreciates the steps that H.P. has taken to remedy the situation," Mr. McCraw said, "but we believe H.P. can and should do more to acknowledge the harm that was done and to demonstrate to other companies that may be tempted to engage in similar conduct that this is not an offense that carries no consequences".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "acknowledge harm", ensure you specify the type of harm being acknowledged (e.g., emotional, physical, environmental) to provide clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid using "acknowledge harm" without clearly identifying the specific harm. Vague acknowledgments can appear insincere and fail to address the actual issue.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acknowledge harm" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where 'acknowledge' is the transitive verb and 'harm' is the direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, indicating that is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acknowledge harm" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express recognition and admission of damage or injury. Ludwig AI states that the phrase is correct. Its usage spans various contexts, including news, science, and general discussions. While its register is generally neutral, the specific level of formality depends on the context. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly identify the specific harm being acknowledged to provide clarity and sincerity. Alternatives include "recognize the damage" and "admit the injury".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recognize the damage

Focuses on the recognition of physical or tangible damage.

admit the injury

Emphasizes acknowledging a personal or emotional wound.

own the impact

Highlights taking responsibility for the consequences.

take responsibility for the damage

Highlights taking liability for the consequences.

concede the detriment

Suggests reluctantly admitting the existence of harm.

face the consequences

Focuses on confronting the results of actions.

understand the implications

Highlights the comprehensive understanding of the consequences.

recognize the repercussions

Highlights the comprehensive understanding of the consequences.

validate the suffering

Emphasizes recognizing and accepting someone else's pain.

be aware of the destructive effect

Underscores understanding of harm caused.

FAQs

What does "acknowledge harm" mean?

To "acknowledge harm" means to recognize and admit that damage, injury, or negative impact has occurred. It implies an understanding of the consequences and often precedes taking responsibility or offering amends.

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

You might say, "The company must "acknowledge harm" caused by the oil spill and compensate affected communities."

What are some alternatives to "acknowledge harm"?

You can use alternatives like "recognize the damage", "admit the injury", or "take responsibility for the damage" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "acknowledge harm"?

It's appropriate to use "acknowledge harm" when you want to convey that a person, group, or entity recognizes and understands the negative consequences of their actions or a particular event.