come to harm

USAGE SUMMARY

"come to harm" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to communicate that someone or something has experienced negative consequences or experienced something bad happening to them. For example, "The child had just started walking alone outside when his parents realized he could come to harm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I must be concerned that she has come to harm".

Independent

Malawana said patients would not come to harm.

The Guardian

Nobody's baby should come to harm because of this".

The Guardian

Patients should not be the ones to come to harm".

The Guardian

When our appetites take over, we come to harm.

The Guardian - Books

If you do not respect the letter bearers you will certainly come to harm.

Columbia University

But detectives have said they believe Miss Lawrence has probably come to harm.

Independent

"My professional judgment is that Claudia has probably come to harm".

Independent

The patient did not come to harm, other than that her disease was doing to her.

The Guardian

She suggested that April did not come to harm in Bridger's car but at his house.

The Guardian

It is becoming increasingly likely Vicky may have been abducted or come to harm".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come to harm" to express a potential or realized negative outcome, especially when emphasizing vulnerability or risk. For example, "Ensure the machinery is properly guarded so that workers do not come to harm."

Common error

Avoid substituting "come to harm" with overly casual phrases like "get hurt" in formal writing. While both express negative consequences, "come to harm" carries a more serious and potentially lasting implication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come to harm" functions as an intransitive verb phrase, indicating that a subject experiences damage, injury, or misfortune. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in contexts where the subject is at risk of experiencing negative consequences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

18%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "come to harm" is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in News & Media and Academia. It functions as an intransitive verb phrase indicating that a subject experiences damage or misfortune. The examples show that it is used to express concern or caution about potential negative outcomes, and the register is neutral, suitable for a range of contexts. Related phrases include "suffer misfortune" and "meet with disaster", and while "get hurt" is similar, it is not a direct substitute in formal writing. The analysis of this phrase underscores its relevance in diverse writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be in danger

Highlights the state of being at risk.

encounter trouble

Suggests facing difficulties or problems.

get into trouble

Implies involvement in problematic situations.

meet with disaster

Emphasizes a calamitous or ruinous outcome.

fall victim to

Suggests being negatively affected by something.

suffer misfortune

Focuses on the experience of bad luck or adverse events.

face adversity

Indicates confronting challenging or unfavorable circumstances.

experience hardship

Focuses on the difficult or painful nature of the event.

befall

A more formal and literary term for something bad happening.

be compromised

Implies a weakening or damaging effect.

FAQs

How can I use "come to harm" in a sentence?

Use "come to harm" to indicate that someone or something has experienced damage, injury, or misfortune. For example, "The organization took steps to ensure no one would "come to harm" during the experiment".

What is a more formal alternative to "come to harm"?

Alternatives like "suffer misfortune" or "meet with disaster" can be used in more formal contexts to convey a similar meaning with a heightened sense of gravity.

Is it correct to say "comes to harm" instead of "come to harm"?

Yes, "comes to harm" is correct when referring to a singular subject in the third person. For example, "He worries that his reputation "comes to harm" if he associates with disreputable people".

What's the difference between "come to harm" and "get hurt"?

While both phrases suggest a negative outcome, "come to harm" often implies a more serious or significant consequence than "get hurt". "Come to harm" can encompass emotional, financial, or reputational damage, whereas "get hurt" typically refers to physical injury.