be of any harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be of any harm" is not correct in standard written English.
A more appropriate phrase would be "cause any harm." Example: "I hope my actions do not cause any harm to the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

He just doesn't feel like he could be of any harm to these kids.

The New York Times - Arts

Therefore, there are no compelling reasons to believe that our approach could be of any harm from a public health perspective.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I am quite sure that the teacher would not have believed that "Mushface" -- which was her affectionate nickname -- would have been capable of any harm.

Huffington Post

These creatures are innocent of any harm to man.

The New Yorker

For most interventions, long term cost effectiveness was lowest for the lowest age category, since at this age the full effects of prevention could be included, before any harm has been done.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

One reads, "Good prose is of no harm.

The New York Times - Arts

One of threatens is the subsynchronous oscillation, which is of great harm to the power system.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Hazel Cheeseman, at the charity Action on Smoking and Health, said there was no evidence of any harm to bystanders and warned regulation needed to be proportionate.

BBC

The agency, she added, was not aware of any harm to consumers associated with the latest problems at that plant.

The New York Times

Major expert committees have considered the evidence in regards to sugars and all of the diseases addressed by Lustig, and all have concluded that there is no evidence of any harm attributed to current sugar consumption levels".

BBC

So the idea of irreparable harm that is, of harm that not even omnipotence can repair is critical to the argument concerning permissible freedom.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and correctness, replace the phrase "be of any harm" with more standard alternatives like "cause harm" or "result in harm".

Common error

Avoid using overly complex constructions like "be of any harm" when simpler and more direct options such as "cause harm" are available and more easily understood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be of any harm" functions as a predicate expressing the potential for causing damage or negative effects. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as non-standard. The examples show attempts to convey a lack of harmful impact or the potential for harm.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "be of any harm" can be understood, it's not considered standard written English. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not correct, suggesting more direct alternatives like "cause harm" or "result in harm" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness. Usage ranges from news and media to scientific contexts, but it is less common than its alternatives. When writing, prefer more direct and common phrases to convey the intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cause any harm

Replaces the "be of" construction with a more direct verb, "cause".

result in harm

Focuses on the outcome or consequence of an action.

lead to harm

Emphasizes the potential for a sequence of events to cause a negative outcome.

inflict any harm

Highlights the action of causing damage or injury.

pose a risk of harm

Focuses on the potential danger or threat.

present a danger

Similar to posing a risk, but more general.

endanger

A single verb that captures the idea of putting someone or something at risk.

be detrimental

Describes something that is harmful or damaging.

have adverse effects

Focuses on the negative consequences of something.

create a hazard

Highlights the creation of a dangerous situation.

FAQs

What is a better way to say "be of any harm"?

Instead of "be of any harm", you can use alternatives such as "cause harm", "result in harm", or "lead to harm".

Is it grammatically correct to say "be of any harm"?

While understandable, the phrase "be of any harm" is not considered standard English. It's more grammatically sound to use phrases like "cause harm" or "result in harm".

What does it mean when something "is of no harm"?

When something "is of no harm", it means it doesn't cause any damage or negative effects. However, it's more common and grammatically correct to say it "causes no harm".

Which is more common, "be of any harm" or "cause any harm"?

"Cause any harm" is significantly more common and grammatically preferred over "be of any harm". Using "cause" provides a more direct and clear expression.