did not hurt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "did not hurt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something did not cause pain or discomfort. Example: "When I fell off my bike, I was surprised to find that it did not hurt at all."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Sports

Health

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It did not hurt either.

The New York Times

We did not hurt anybody.

The Guardian

We did not hurt anyone in anyway.

Cornell University

Cash did not hurt, either.

The New York Times - Sports

Well, Posey and Sandoval did not hurt.

The New York Times - Sports

The extra dosing did not hurt performance.

The New York Times

The scheduling did not hurt viewership.

The New York Times

Cash and prizes did not hurt, either.

The New York Times

And Bourque's pregame talk did not hurt.

The New York Times - Sports

No surprise, the cream did not hurt.

The New York Times - Food

A near-perfect draw did not hurt.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of an event or action, use "did not hurt" to clearly convey that there were no negative consequences or adverse effects. For example, "The market correction did not hurt our long-term investments."

Common error

Avoid using "did not hurt" when a more active construction would be clearer and more direct. For example, instead of saying "The company did not hurt by the scandal", consider "The company survived the scandal unscathed."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not hurt" functions primarily as a predicate within a sentence. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates the absence of pain, injury, or negative impact. It's commonly used to describe a state or condition where something didn't cause harm.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Sports

18%

Health

8%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Science

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "did not hurt" is a versatile and frequently used expression that conveys the absence of pain, harm, or negative impact. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse contexts. As shown in examples from Ludwig, the phrase is particularly common in News & Media and Sports reporting, indicating events or actions that had no adverse effects. While suitable for neutral communication, more formal alternatives like "caused no detriment" may be preferred in certain settings. Avoiding passive constructions and focusing on active voice enhances clarity. Overall, "did not hurt" is a valuable tool for expressing a lack of negative consequences in various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wasn't painful

Directly states the absence of pain.

caused no pain

Replaces "hurt" with a more explicit term for physical discomfort.

didn't cause harm

Substitutes "hurt" with "harm", broadening the scope to include non-physical damage.

didn't inflict injury

Specifically refers to the absence of physical harm or wounds.

had no adverse effect

Focuses on the lack of negative consequences, suitable for situations beyond physical pain.

caused no suffering

Emphasizes the absence of distress or anguish.

was not detrimental

Emphasizes the absence of damage or disadvantage.

didn't have a negative impact

Highlights the absence of any negative influence or effect.

didn't bother

Indicates a lack of disturbance or discomfort.

didn't create problems

Shifts the focus to the absence of issues or difficulties.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "did not hurt" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, you can use phrases like "caused no detriment", "had no adverse effect", or "did not impair" to convey a similar meaning to "did not hurt".

What's the difference between "did not hurt" and "didn't harm"?

"Did not hurt" often refers to a lack of physical pain or immediate negative impact. "Didn't harm" implies a broader absence of damage, injury, or negative consequences, extending beyond the physical.

Is it correct to say "did not hurt" in both physical and metaphorical contexts?

Yes, "did not hurt" can be used both literally to describe a lack of physical pain and metaphorically to describe a lack of negative impact or damage. For example, "The fall did not hurt" (physical) and "The criticism did not hurt his career" (metaphorical).

What are some less common alternatives to "did not hurt"?

Less common alternatives include "inflicted no injury", "caused no suffering", or "left unscathed", which may be appropriate depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.