at harms

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at harms" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely a misinterpretation of "at harm" or "to harm," which can be used in contexts discussing danger or risk. Example: "The decision to cut funding puts the community at harm."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

He contributed to a musical magazine, and then got a job at Harms, Inc. as a pianist and arranger.

The New Yorker

And the people at Harms often referred theatergoers to Smoke, which is about two distant blocks from the theater.

The New York Times

Next Sunday afternoon at Harms, Verdi is to be memorialized with "Rigoletto" by the National Lyric Opera.

The New York Times

It was easy to get financing to study the benefits of screening, he added, but a study that looked at harms was "too far out of the culture".

The New York Times - Health

A study published in 2010 looked at harms to users, such as mortality, damage to physical and mental health, dependence, and loss of resources and relationships, as well as harms to society, such as injury of others, crime, environmental damage, family adversities, international damage, economic cost and effects on the community.

BBC

This review was unique by including more than 300 reviews, from two major databases, that looked at harms as a main outcome; each review was evaluated in depth using a novel set of 37 items to measure the quality of reporting.

British Medical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

As a result, people often take precautionary measures to circumvent evil attempts at harming them.

Britannica

When Vasconcelos began working at the clinic, more than twenty years ago, there was no attempt at harm reduction.

The New Yorker

Under federal law, the term "weapon of mass destruction" refers to virtually any explosive charge aimed at harming people.

The New York Times

Although the bulk of the TCA studies involve animals, a few human studies also hint at harm.

The New York Times

A conceptual framework will be introduced that looks at harm, risk and vulnerability at the three levels of individual, community and society.

International Journal of Drug Policy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing potential negative outcomes, use the phrase "at harm" instead of "at harms". "At harm" correctly indicates a state of being in danger or at risk.

Common error

Avoid using the plural form "harms" after the preposition "at". The correct form is singular, "at harm", unless you are specifically referring to multiple distinct instances of harm, in which case a different sentence structure may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at harms" functions as a prepositional phrase, but it's considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI identifies it as a likely misinterpretation of "at harm" or "to harm".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

10%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at harms" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests that it is likely a misinterpretation and should be replaced by "at harm" or rephrased for clarity. While instances of the phrase can be found, they are infrequent and do not represent common usage. Alternatives such as "in danger" or "at risk" are more appropriate for conveying the intended meaning of potential danger or vulnerability. It is important to prioritize grammatical correctness to avoid confusion and maintain credibility in written communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at risk

Replaces "harms" with the more common and grammatically correct term for indicating potential danger.

in danger

Offers a slightly more emphatic way to describe a state of potential harm.

threatened by

Focuses on the source of the potential harm, rather than the state of being harmed.

vulnerable to

Highlights a susceptibility to negative impacts or harm.

susceptible to

Similar to "vulnerable to", emphasizing a predisposition to harm.

exposed to danger

Emphasizes the state of being unprotected and open to harm.

liable to injury

Specifically refers to the potential for physical harm or damage.

at a disadvantage

Shifts the focus to the negative impact on one's position or prospects.

in jeopardy

Indicates a situation of high risk or potential failure.

at stake

Focuses on what could be lost or damaged.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "at harms"?

No, the correct phrasing is typically "at harm". The plural form "harms" is generally not used with the preposition "at" in this context.

What does it mean to be "at harm"?

Being "at harm" means being in a situation where you are in danger or at risk of being hurt or damaged. Consider using alternatives like "at risk" or "in danger".

Can I use "at harms" in any situation?

While the phrase "at harms" appears infrequently, it's generally not considered standard English. It's safer to use "at harm" or rephrase the sentence for clarity. For example, instead of "assessing at harms", consider "assessing potential harm".

What are some alternatives to "at harm"?

You can use phrases such as "in danger", "at risk", or "vulnerable to", depending on the specific context you want to convey.