at great harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at great harm" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is done with significant negative consequences or risks involved. Example: "The decision to cut funding for the program was made at great harm to the community's well-being."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Will you tell me, why would this woman, at great harm to herself, come out eleven years later and make an accusation like this, and make it up out of whole cloth?" Kelly began, laying out the People reporter's accusations.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The children's agency called on all armed groups to desist from the use of landmines and other explosive weapons, particularly in populated areas, which put civilians, particularly children, at risk of great harm.

Unicef

And state intervention is justified where it saves people from great harm at little cost to themselves.

The Economist

Japan has been importing huge amounts of oil, coal and natural gas to replace the lost nuclear power, at great expense and great harm to human health and the environment.

Forbes

'[Vision in God] is an opinion that spreads not and is like to die of itself, or at least do no great harm,' John Locke was reported as saying three days before his death (quoted in Cranston 1957, 478).

SEP

It, like so much postwar policy, was a catastrophic success -- doing great good and great harm at once.

HuffPost

However, for those of us that have survived great harm at the hands of others, God's criminal justice often looks anything but just.

Huffington Post

In doing so, he put his own livelihood and reputation needlessly at risk, and he caused great harm to other N.F.L. players and to the league.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr Fitzgerald is somebody who can do Mr Bush great harm; but conservatives attack him at their peril.

The Economist

An unprotected Internet connection exposes a data-rich network to a hacker or even a competitor who can do great harm and put a company at risk.

Forbes

At the same time, he denounced Bi for causing "great harm" to Mao and defaming the party and the army.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at great harm" when you want to emphasize the significant negative consequences or risks associated with a particular action or situation. It conveys a sense of seriousness and potential for substantial damage.

Common error

Avoid using "at great harm" in contexts where the negative consequences are relatively minor. This phrase is best reserved for situations involving significant damage or risk; otherwise, the language can sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at great harm" functions as a prepositional phrase, often modifying a verb or noun to indicate the manner or consequence of an action. Ludwig highlights its use in contexts involving significant negative outcomes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

25%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at great harm" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to highlight significant negative consequences or risks. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for formal and neutral contexts, especially in news, business, and scientific writing. While not as common as other similar phrases, it is effective in conveying a sense of seriousness and potential damage. When using this phrase, it's essential to ensure that the context warrants such strong language, avoiding overuse in less critical situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at great peril

Focuses specifically on the danger or hazard involved, indicating a high level of risk.

with considerable risk

Emphasizes the element of risk or potential danger involved in a situation.

to significant loss

Highlights the magnitude of loss or damage incurred.

with substantial damage

Emphasizes the extent of the damage caused.

with severe detriment

Focuses on the damaging or detrimental aspect, suggesting a considerable loss or disadvantage.

with dire consequences

Highlights the calamitous or disastrous nature of the results.

with serious adverse effects

Focuses on the negative effects or consequences, indicating they are severe.

with significant repercussions

Emphasizes the consequences or aftereffects of an action, highlighting that it leads to notable negative outcomes.

to the grave disadvantage

Highlights the detrimental impact in terms of creating a significant disadvantage.

with heavy casualties

Specifies severe losses, particularly in terms of lives or injuries.

FAQs

How can I use "at great harm" in a sentence?

You can use "at great harm" to describe actions or situations that lead to significant negative consequences. For example: "The company implemented the new policy "at great harm" to its employees' morale."

What are some alternatives to "at great harm"?

Alternatives include phrases like "with significant repercussions", "with considerable risk", or "to the grave disadvantage". Each alternative emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the negative consequences.

When is it appropriate to use "at great harm" instead of "at some risk"?

"At great harm" suggests a higher degree of negative consequence than "at some risk". Use "at great harm" when the potential damage is substantial, while "at some risk" implies a possibility of harm that may not be as severe.

Is "at great harm" a formal or informal expression?

"At great harm" is generally considered a neutral to formal expression, suitable for professional and news-related contexts. It might sound overly dramatic in casual conversation.