at damaging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at damaging" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks proper context to determine its intended meaning. Example: "The company was found liable at damaging the environment."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

His revelations were followed by a torrent of leaks from his agency, all apparently aimed at damaging Clinton's campaign.

The New Yorker

The letter seemed to serve as a form of legal gamesmanship — allowing Mr. Strauss-Kahn's lawyers to hint at damaging information about the housekeeper without revealing it.

The New York Times

Less common are the eosinophils, which are particularly effective at damaging the cells that make up the cuticle (body wall) of larger parasites.

Encyclopedia Britannica

To the South China Morning Post Snowden revealed details of how the NSA hacks into computers and mobile phones in China and Hong Kong.Indeed, many of the disclosures seem directly aimed at damaging American diplomacy, or harming American allies.

The Economist

Human Rights Watch issued a statement this week insisting that the Justice Ministry "stop publishing statements aimed at damaging the reputation of a young Saudi rape victim who spoke out publicly about her ordeal and her efforts to find justice".

The New York Times

After Greece's veto of Macedonia's invitation to join NATO, it is obvious that Greece's intentions are aimed not at supporting permanent regional stability, but at damaging our neighbor relations, attacking our national identity and increasing political instability in the region.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Such interaction between pathogen and DC-SIGN expressing cells could occur at damaged epithelia.

Plosone

To check this imaginative outlet at every turn seemed at best churlish and at worse damaging.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Kittel attacked, firing at and damaging several Shturmovik.

Wikipedia

But this stab at damage control went nowhere.

The New York Times - Arts

A homespun Heloise, Cobb is an expert at damage control.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "at damaging" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "causing damage" or "harming."

Common error

Many writers incorrectly use "at" before a gerund (verb ending in -ing) when a different preposition or a verb is more appropriate. Always check if the preposition accurately reflects the intended relationship between the elements in your sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at damaging" typically functions as part of a prepositional phrase, where "at" is a preposition and "damaging" is intended as a gerund. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, this construction is generally grammatically incorrect. Better alternatives depend on the intended meaning and context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

24%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at damaging" is generally considered grammatically incorrect, as highlighted by Ludwig AI. While examples of its use can be found across various sources, including news media and scientific articles, its incorrect structure makes it unsuitable for formal writing. Better alternatives, such as "causing damage" or "harming", should be used to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Although it appears with some frequency, relying on this construction is not advisable due to its questionable grammatical standing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

causing damage

Replaces the preposition "at" with "causing", creating a more direct and grammatically sound phrase.

inflicting damage

Substitutes "at" with "inflicting", highlighting the act of causing harm.

resulting in damage

Focuses on the consequence of an action, emphasizing the damage as an outcome.

contributing to damage

Highlights the aspect of contributing to a negative outcome.

harming

Uses a single verb to convey the action of causing harm, simplifying the phrase.

damaging

Uses the gerund form of the verb. Simplifies the phrase.

doing damage to

Adds the verb "do" to emphasize the action of causing harm to something.

leading to damage

Focuses on the action's potential to cause damage as a consequence.

creating damage

Emphasizes the action of bringing damage into existence.

affecting adversely

Shifts the focus to the negative impact or effect of an action.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to the phrase "at damaging"?

Better alternatives include "causing damage", "harming", or "resulting in damage", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "at" before a gerund like "damaging"?

Generally, using "at" directly before a gerund like "damaging" is grammatically incorrect. It's better to use a more appropriate preposition or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

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

Example: "The construction work is "causing damage" to the nearby buildings." This correctly uses a gerund after a verb.

What's the difference between "at damaging" and "damaging"?

"At damaging" is generally incorrect. "Damaging" can be used as a gerund or adjective. For example, "The "damaging" effects of the storm were evident" (adjective) or "Damaging the environment is illegal" (gerund).