counting the victims

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "counting the victims" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where one is assessing or tallying the number of individuals affected by an event, often in discussions about disasters, crimes, or conflicts. Example: "After the earthquake, the authorities began counting the victims to provide aid and support to the affected families."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Counting the victims is tricky.

The Economist

If anyone is still counting, the victims of the war in Iraq are all the Iraqis.

The Guardian - Opinion

She has since spent her time contacting the relatives of others who died during the Tiananmen crackdown, counting the victims, and demanding an explanation, an apology and compensation from the Communist Party.

The Economist

The heartbreaking reality is that Pudgie Walsh, retired five and a half years after putting in 40 on the job in the FDNY, could schedule another season of tribute games, counting the victims by two.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

In December, after Bashar's military had killed its 5,000th fellow Syrian, the United Nations announced that it was no longer able to count the victims.

The New York Times - Books

Today, he clarified the administration's position, saying that it does not intend to count the victims' compensation awards as part of the emergency aid.

The New York Times

In examining the city's 461 homicides so far this year, much can be learned about how the police count the victims.

The New York Times

The date of the bombing, Aug. 19, is still a fresh one for people in the East River headquarters, many of whom counted the victims in Baghdad among their friends.

The New York Times

Residents said the death toll was much higher — and the Observatory said the total could reach 250 — but that it was difficult to identify and count the victims because the fighting was continuing and because many of the bodies had been disfigured.

The New York Times

And of course if we count the victims of U.S. crimes abroad - the civilians and children killed by drone strikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan, for example - President Obama, the one with the "kill list," has little standing to criticize almost any foreign president.

Huffington Post

That being said, according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, a national advocacy group for local LGBTQ communities, 2016 was the deadliest year on record for LGBTQ folks, and that's not counting the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "counting the victims", ensure you're being sensitive to the context, especially when discussing tragic events. Focus on accuracy and respect for those affected.

Common error

Avoid focusing solely on the numerical count of victims without providing context or acknowledging the human impact of the event. Numbers alone can dehumanize the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "counting the victims" functions primarily as a verbal phrase that describes the action of enumerating individuals who have suffered harm or loss, often in the context of tragic events. Ludwig confirms this is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "counting the victims" is a grammatically sound and contextually sensitive expression used to describe the act of enumerating individuals harmed or killed in a specific event. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in English. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it serves the purpose of quantifying the human cost associated with tragic events. While grammatically straightforward, sensitivity to the context is paramount. Alternatives such as "tallying the casualties" or "assessing the losses" may be more appropriate depending on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tallying the casualties

Focuses more specifically on those killed or injured in an event.

assessing the losses

Broadens the scope to include not only human lives but also other damages.

enumerating the deceased

A more formal and somber way of referring to counting the dead.

calculating the fatalities

Emphasizes the mathematical aspect of determining the number of deaths.

determining the death toll

Highlights the final number of deaths resulting from a particular event.

keeping track of the injured

Focuses on those who sustained injuries rather than fatalities.

assessing the human cost

Emphasizes the impact on human lives, both fatal and non-fatal.

compiling a list of casualties

Refers to the act of creating a record of those affected.

tabulating the affected

A more general term referring to counting all individuals impacted.

taking a census of victims

Implies a comprehensive and systematic count of all affected individuals.

FAQs

What does "counting the victims" mean?

The phrase "counting the victims" refers to the act of tallying or enumerating the number of individuals who have been harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a specific event, such as a disaster, conflict, or crime.

How can I use "counting the victims" in a sentence?

You can use "counting the victims" to describe the process of assessing the human cost of an event. For example: "After the earthquake, rescue teams focused on "tallying the casualties" and providing aid."

What are some alternatives to "counting the victims"?

Alternatives include "assessing the losses", "determining the death toll", or "tabulating the affected", depending on the specific context and the type of impact being measured.

Why is it important to accurately count the victims of a disaster or conflict?

Accurately counting the victims is crucial for providing appropriate aid, understanding the scale of the event, and honoring those who were affected. It also helps in planning for future disaster response and prevention efforts.