collateral damages

USAGE SUMMARY

"collateral damage" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is generally used to refer to the unintended consequences of an event or action. For example: The war resulted in numerous tragic cases of collateral damage, including the loss of innocent lives and the destruction of businesses in the nearby towns.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

To watch "The First 24 Hours" and "Collateral Damages" today is a purging experience.

The New York Times

Yet Russano observed "collateral damages" — the confession rate among innocents tripled.

The New Yorker

Two documentaries, "Collateral Damages" and "The First 24 Hours," both by Étienne Sauret, return to the primal events.

The New York Times

The most moving aspect of "Collateral Damages" is the firefighters' sense of brotherhood and duty to their jobs.

The New York Times

The EP&L can already serve as an important tool to help this shift in commerce, from generating profits with collateral damages to profits with collateral benefits.

The Guardian

Shown with "Collateral Damages" and a four-minute short, Zbigniew Rybczynski's "Imagine," at the Film Forum, 209 West Houston Street, west of Sixth Avenue, South Village.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

"I'm collateral damage".

The New York Times

Call it collateral damage.

The Economist

Collateral power, collateral damage.

The New York Times - Magazine

Rockets inflict collateral damage.

The Guardian - Opinion

Collateral damage, for example.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "collateral damages", ensure the context clearly establishes the primary action or event from which the damages arise. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "collateral damages" when the origin of the damage isn't clearly defined. This can make the statement vague and confusing. Instead, provide context or use a more direct description of the damage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collateral damages" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig AI highlights its use in describing unintended negative outcomes. It identifies and labels unintended harm.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

5%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "collateral damages" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase referring to unintended negative consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts, primarily in news and scientific reporting. While semantically related phrases like "unintended consequences" or "ancillary harm" can be used as alternatives, "collateral damages" specifically emphasizes the aspect of harm resulting as a secondary effect. When using this phrase, it is advisable to ensure a clear connection to the primary action causing the damages to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ancillary harm

Similar to "collateral damages" but uses "harm" instead of "damages".

derivative damages

A more formal term for damages that result indirectly from an action.

unintended consequences

Focuses on the unintended nature of the results, omitting the damage aspect.

unforeseen repercussions

Highlights the unexpected and impactful nature of the consequences.

incidental losses

Replaces "damages" with "losses", emphasizing the aspect of something lost.

secondary effects

Highlights that the effects are not primary, without specifying harm.

side effects

Commonly used in medical contexts to denote unintended results.

knock-on effects

Implies a chain reaction of consequences, not necessarily negative.

ancillary consequences

A more neutral phrase that can apply both to positive and negative results.

indirect costs

Focuses on the financial aspect of the unintended consequences.

FAQs

How is "collateral damages" used in a sentence?

"Collateral damages" typically refers to unintended harm resulting from an action. For example: "The bombing raid caused significant "collateral damages" to the civilian population."

What's a good substitute for "collateral damages"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "unintended consequences", "secondary effects", or "ancillary harm".

What does the term "collateral damage" generally refer to?

The term "collateral damage" generally refers to unintended or incidental injury or damage caused during an operation. It is often used in the context of military operations, but can be applied to other situations as well.

Is "collateral damages" a formal or informal expression?

The expression "collateral damages" is considered to be neutral to formal. While it can be used in formal contexts like news reports and scientific publications, it is also understood in more informal settings.