cause a harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cause a harm" is not correct in standard English; it should be "cause harm" or "cause a harm" depending on the context.
You can use it when discussing the potential negative effects of an action or situation, but it is more common to simply say "cause harm." Example: "The chemicals released into the river can cause harm to the local wildlife."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

According to the principle of double effect, sometimes it is permissible to cause a harm as a side effect (or "double effect") of bringing about a good result even though it would not be permissible to cause such a harm as a means to bringing about the same good end.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A manufacturer can typically be found liable for its product causing a harm under the doctrine of products liability.

Harvard University

And the thing for which I am causing a harm to the individual behind me is not something that concerned a norm violation directed at me.

Yale University

For example, causing a harm of a certain magnitude to a paradigmatic person is morally worse than causing a harm of the same magnitude to a merely sentient animal, even setting aside the fact that the harm to the paradigmatic person might well cause additional negative effects not caused by inflicting the same harm on a merely sentient animal (Harman 2003).

SEP

No physician, ever wants to cause a patient harm - it's in the Hippocratic Oath.

Huffington Post

Number two, we could potentially find a DNA signature from a cancer that may never cause a person a harm.

The Washington Post

"But it can cause a lot of harm".

The New York Times

As these chunks of viral DNA hop around, they can cause a lot of harm.

The New York Times - Science

Mark Mitchell's designs are intended to cause a minimum of harm to the life in the soil around the body.

Fashion and Textiles

It's disgusting and could very easily cause a lot of harm to many people.

Huffington Post

These stereotypical "ideals" can cause a lot of harm.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always consider the context. In formal writing, alternatives such as "inflict harm" or "result in damage" may be more appropriate than "cause harm".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "cause a harm" in formal or academic writing. It's often grammatically awkward and less impactful than simply using "cause harm" or more sophisticated alternatives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause a harm" functions as a verb phrase where "cause" is the verb and "a harm" is the object. Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is not standard in English and can be improved by using "cause harm" or other alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "cause a harm" is occasionally used, it's generally considered grammatically awkward and less common than simply "cause harm". Ludwig AI analysis indicates that it's often more appropriate to use alternative phrases such as "inflict harm" or "result in damage", especially in formal or academic contexts. The sources from Ludwig indicate that this phrase appears infrequently, and more authoritative sources may favor clearer, more standard phrasing. When intending to express the action of bringing about a negative outcome, consider using more common alternatives for improved clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

do harm

A simpler and more direct way of expressing the same concept, suitable for informal contexts.

inflict harm

Replaces "cause" with "inflict", suggesting a more deliberate and forceful action.

result in damage

Focuses on the outcome of damage, suggesting a cause-and-effect relationship.

create damage

Focuses on the resulting damage rather than the act of causing it, shifting the emphasis.

bring about harm

Uses "bring about" instead of "cause", indicating that the action results in harm.

generate injury

Implies the creation of injury, often used in medical or legal contexts to describe harm.

precipitate injury

Suggests a sudden or abrupt causation of injury, often used in formal or technical contexts.

give rise to damage

Indicates that the action initiates damage, often used in formal writing.

lead to detriment

Emphasizes the detrimental consequences of an action, highlighting negative impact.

induce injury

Suggests influencing or persuading the injury to occur, differing from direct causation.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "cause a harm"?

While sometimes used, "cause a harm" is generally considered less grammatically correct than "cause harm". The indefinite article "a" is unnecessary unless referring to a specific instance of harm.

What is a better way to say "cause a harm"?

You can use more common and grammatically sound alternatives like "cause harm", "inflict harm", or "result in damage".

When is it appropriate to use "cause a harm"?

The phrase "cause a harm" is best reserved for informal contexts or when referring to a specific instance of harm. In most formal situations, it's preferable to use alternatives.

What's the difference between "cause harm" and "cause a harm"?

"Cause harm" refers to the general act of causing damage or injury. "Cause a harm" might be used to describe a particular, identifiable instance of harm, but is less common. Consider also using phrases like "pose a harm", "inflict harm", or "result in damage".