bodily harm

USAGE SUMMARY

"bodily harm" is a phrase that is commonly used in written English and would be understood by most English speakers.
For example: The police officer warned the criminal that any further violent behavior could lead to bodily harm.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nolan admitted grievous bodily harm with intent.

The Guardian

that is, an apprehension of bodily harm.

Harvard University

And whether you harbor fears about anything besides bodily harm.

The New York Times

He didn't cause any bodily harm to the person.

The Guardian

That has been corrected to actual bodily harm.

The Guardian

Then he threatened bodily harm to your family.

The New York Times

It requires a reasonable fear of bodily harm".

The New York Times

It surely must be called assault causing actual bodily harm.

Independent

Mr Madine was found guilty of causing Mr Beresford actual bodily harm and causing Mr Hall grievous bodily harm.

Independent

That deals with assaults which range right from a common assault right through to causing actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm, manslaughter or murder.

The Guardian - Sport

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm would require the prosecution to prove that the alleged assault on Mr Tomlinson caused him actual bodily harm.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal or medical contexts, use "bodily harm" to clearly denote physical injury or damage caused to a person. This term is widely understood and accepted in professional and formal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "bodily harm" when describing emotional or psychological distress. "Bodily harm" specifically refers to physical injuries, while emotional distress requires different terminology such as "emotional suffering" or "psychological trauma".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bodily harm" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically serves as the object of a verb or follows a preposition, denoting physical injury or damage inflicted upon a person. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

10%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bodily harm" is a noun phrase referring to physical injury or damage. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound. It's "very common" across diverse sources, especially in "News & Media", "Academia", and legal settings. While "bodily harm" specifically denotes physical injury, it should not be used to describe emotional or psychological distress. Alternatives like "physical injury" or "physical trauma" can be used depending on the specific context. In practical writing, using "bodily harm" clarifies physical harm in legal and medical contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

physical injury

Focuses on the specific damage inflicted to the body.

physical trauma

Emphasizes the severity and potential long-term effects of the injury.

corporal injury

A more formal term emphasizing the physical nature of the harm.

physical assault

Highlights the act of violence that caused the harm.

personal injury

A legal term indicating harm suffered by an individual.

infliction of injury

Highlights the act of causing injury to someone.

doing violence to

Emphasizes the violent nature of the act causing harm.

causing hurt

A simpler and more general way to refer to causing physical damage.

physical abuse

Implies a pattern of intentional physical harm.

infliction of physical suffering

Highlights the suffering caused by the physical harm.

FAQs

What are some synonyms for "bodily harm"?

Alternatives include "physical injury", "physical trauma", or "corporal injury", depending on the context.

What is the difference between "bodily harm" and "grievous bodily harm"?

"Bodily harm" generally refers to any physical injury. "Grievous bodily harm" implies a more severe or serious injury.

Is "bodily harm" a legal term?

Yes, "bodily harm" is a common term in legal contexts, often used in criminal law to describe the physical injuries inflicted during an assault or other violent crime.

How is "bodily harm" different from "emotional distress"?

"Bodily harm" refers specifically to physical injuries, whereas "emotional distress" refers to psychological or emotional suffering. The two are distinct and require different terminology and legal considerations; for example, you cannot use /s/bodily+harm to describe emotional distress.