be harmful or cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be harmful or cause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing potential negative effects or consequences of an action or situation. Example: "Certain chemicals can be harmful or cause serious health issues if not handled properly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The growing popularity of "clean" cosmetics and personal care products has raised awareness of certain ingredients that may be harmful or cause allergic reactions.

Harvard University

Furthermore, an inadvertent overfilling may not necessarily be harmful or cause a periapical lesion to form but may actually reflect a unfavorable apical shaping and alteration of the normal anatomy, which may put the apical tissues at risk for delayed healing or lack thereof (Bergenholtz et al. 1979).

Evidence-Based Endodontics

Special attention should be paid to the potential use of folk medicines that could be harmful or cause further delay in contacting healthcare services.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"We conduct a risk assessment that assembles all of the available science to determine if a substance is harmful or has the potential to cause harm to humans or the environment," he says.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Thus, while Nrf2 activation by fumarate is beneficial in the context of ischemic stress, chronic Nrf2 activation is likely to be harmful and cause heart failure.

Cell Metabolism

However, sometimes it can be harmful and cause more hurt.

WikiHow

High levels (>1.5 mg/l), however, can be harmful and may cause mottled teeth, and at higher concentrations can cause bone problems.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Fumes from paint, paint thinner, and wood varnishes contain fumes which may be harmful, causing early delivery or even brain damage to an unborn child.

WikiHow

Property owners seem to recognize that new construction in newly protected oceanfront areas would be harmful to their cause.

The New York Times

Medication can be effective but can also be harmful and even cause hospital admissions.

BMC Health Services Research

ROS are generally believed to be harmful because they cause oxidative damage to DNA, protein, lipids and other macromolecules.

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing potential risks, use "be harmful or cause" to clearly convey the possibility of both direct harm and consequential effects. This phrase is particularly effective in contexts requiring a comprehensive assessment of potential negative outcomes.

Common error

While "be harmful or cause" is acceptable, avoid overuse in highly formal writing. Consider using more sophisticated synonyms like "engender" or "precipitate" for "cause" to enhance the text's professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be harmful or cause" functions as a linking phrase, primarily used to describe something with the potential for negative effects. It bridges the state of being harmful with the action of causing something detrimental, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be harmful or cause" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for indicating something that has the potential to inflict damage or lead to negative consequences. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, its frequency is relatively uncommon. The phrase is suitable for various contexts, including science, news, and academic writing, with a neutral register. When using this phrase, consider its potential overuse in formal writing and explore synonyms for more nuanced expression. Remember it's important to consider that "harmful" implies a direct, negative effect, while "cause" suggests an indirect or consequential effect, expanding the scope of potential damage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be detrimental or create

Substitutes "harmful" with "detrimental" and uses "create" instead of "cause", altering the nuance slightly.

be damaging or bring about

Uses "damaging" instead of "harmful" and "bring about" instead of "cause", offering a more descriptive tone.

result in damage

Focuses on the outcome of damage, omitting the element of potential harm.

inflict injury or harm

Emphasizes the act of inflicting harm or injury, shifting the focus to the action rather than the potential.

lead to detriment

Replaces "harmful" with "detriment" and "cause" with "lead to", suggesting a different degree of formality.

be destructive and produce

Uses "destructive" in place of "harmful", implying a greater degree of damage, and substitutes "cause" with "produce".

induce damage or injury

Replaces "harmful" and "cause" with synonyms emphasizing the physical aspect of damage or injury.

pose a risk and generate

Highlights the risk aspect and replaces "cause" with "generate", changing the emphasis.

trigger adverse effects

Focuses on negative effects using "trigger", which indicates a rapid or sudden causation.

generate negative consequences

Emphasizes the outcome as negative consequences, removing the direct mention of harm.

FAQs

How can I use "be harmful or cause" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to express that something has the potential to directly inflict damage or lead to negative consequences. For example: "Certain chemicals can be harmful or cause long-term health problems."

What are some alternatives to "be harmful or cause"?

You can use alternatives like "lead to detriment", "result in damage", or "trigger adverse effects" depending on the context.

Is "be harmful or cause" redundant?

While "harmful" and "cause" can overlap, using both emphasizes the dual potential for direct harm and indirect consequences. The phrase is not strictly redundant, as "cause" broadens the scope beyond immediate harm.

When is it best to use "be harmful or cause" over a single word?

Use "be harmful or cause" when you want to highlight both the potential for direct harm and the possibility of initiating a chain of negative events. This provides a more thorough warning than just saying something is "harmful".