damage

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "damage" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word "damage" to refer to physical harm done to a person, object, or environment. Example sentence: The car was totaled after the accident, causing a significant amount of damage.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The displaced groups were expected to be living in the tents for up to eight weeks and authorities won't know until Cyclone Nathan has passed whether damage caused is likely to extend that.

The Guardian

The cyclone has approached from the east after crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria from Queensland's Cape York Peninsula where it made landfall as a category four storm but caused minimal damage.

The Guardian

Some of the damage, he says, is "probably permanent".

The Guardian

But by then the damage had been done.

The Economist

But another cost has been the damage done to the whole notion of financial innovation.

The Economist

4. GNM accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by you as a result of entering the Competition or accepting the prize.

The Guardian

She said: "His status as honorary president does not give him the right to hijack the Front National with vulgar provocations seemingly designed to damage me, but that unfortunately hit the whole movement".

The Guardian

Related: Le Pen family feud is a battle for the soul of the Front National – and France In an interview with the centre-right Le Figaro newspaper on Monday, Le Pen, who had threatened to leave the political ring "only at the end of the bout, whether victor or vanquished", seemed almost conciliatory as he said he would withdraw his candidature to avoid further damage to the party.

The Guardian

While bombs did some damage, they did nothing compared with a disastrous postwar planner, Rowland Nicholas, who sought to demolish much of the city – even the town hall – to rebuild a socialist utopia.

The Guardian

We are continuing our campaign, and continue to lobby for intervention from Ed Vaizey and Jeremy Hunt (who are responsible for superintending library services nationwide) to avoid yet more needless waste of public money and irreparable damage to our library service.

The Guardian - Books

It will take million of pounds to restore the damage caused in affected boroughs such as mine.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "damage" when you want to describe the negative impact on something or someone. For more formal contexts, consider related terms like "detriment" or "impairment".

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "damage", which refers to harm or injury, with "damages", which refers to monetary compensation awarded in a legal case.

Linguistic Context

Damage primarily functions as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to the state of being harmed or injured. As a verb, it indicates the act of causing harm or impairment. According to Ludwig AI, the term is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "damage" is a versatile term used to describe harm or injury, functioning both as a noun and a verb. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. Its prevalence in News & Media highlights its relevance in reporting events involving harm, loss, or impairment. While "damage" is a common term, it's essential to distinguish it from "damages", which refers to monetary compensation. To ensure clarity and precision, particularly in formal or legal contexts, consider using specific modifiers or related terms such as "harm", "injury", or "impairment".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cause harm

Focuses on the action of inflicting harm, rather than the state of being harmed.

inflict injury

Emphasizes the act of causing physical harm or wound.

sustain losses

Highlights the experience of suffering loss, especially in a business or financial context.

incurred detriment

Highlights a loss or injury suffered as a consequence of something.

take a toll

Implies a gradual negative effect or cumulative harm.

create destruction

Focuses on the act of demolishing or ruining something

leave scars

Emphasizes lasting negative effects, either physical or emotional.

exact a price

Implies that something negative results as a consequence of an action or event.

have repercussions

Highlights the adverse consequences or effects resulting from an event.

cause impairment

Highlights that something has been made weak or faulty.

FAQs

How is the word "damage" typically used in a sentence?

The word "damage" can function as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to the harm or injury sustained (e.g., "The flood caused extensive damage"). As a verb, it means to cause harm or injury (e.g., "The fire damaged the building").

What are some synonyms for "damage" that I can use in my writing?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms such as "harm", "injury", "destruction", "impairment", or "detriment".

What is the difference between "damage" and "damages"?

"Damage" refers to the harm or injury itself, while "damages" refers to the monetary compensation awarded in court for the "damage" sustained. For example, "The car accident caused significant damage, and the court awarded damages to cover the repair costs".

When is it appropriate to use "damage" as a verb?

Use "damage" as a verb when describing the act of causing harm or injury to something. For instance, "The earthquake damaged several buildings" or "The scandal damaged his reputation".