do damage to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "do damage to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase to express harm done to a person, object, or place. For example: "The storm did severe damage to the small town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We can only do damage to them.

The Guardian - Sport

"It would do damage to the community.

The New York Times

He didn't do damage to anybody".

The Guardian

Determination, because I can sometimes do damage to my health.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Murray prepares to do damage to the ball.

The Guardian - Sport

To increase the work requirements would do damage to state welfare programs, which are working well".

The New York Times

"If you have something that could clean limestone, it would do damage to sandstone.

The New York Times

Republican strategists worried that it might do damage to Mr. Bush's re-election hopes.

The New York Times

It's their outrageous xenophobic statements that do damage to our reputation abroad — not my film".

The Guardian - Film

"But they also do damage to the integrity of the system".

The New Yorker

To think that silk or cotton doesn't do damage to the environment is a lie".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "do damage to", consider the degree and nature of the harm. Choose a verb that accurately reflects the intensity of the damage, such as "severely damage" or "slightly damage".

Common error

Avoid using "damage" as a verb when "do damage to" is more appropriate for expressing the action of causing harm. For example, instead of "The flood damaged the town", use "The flood did damage to the town".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "do damage to" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of causing harm or impairment to someone or something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Wiki

28%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "do damage to" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of causing harm or impairment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely applicable across various contexts, though primarily found in News & Media, Wiki and Science domains. While alternatives like "cause harm to" or "inflict damage upon" exist, understanding the nuances of "do damage to" can enhance your writing and ensure clarity when conveying negative impacts. Remember to consider the degree of harm and choose related terms for better accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cause harm to

Emphasizes the action of inflicting harm, often in a more general sense.

inflict damage upon

Highlights the act of imposing damage, often with a sense of force or impact.

cause detriment to

Focuses on the negative impact or disadvantage resulting from the action.

be detrimental to

Describes something that inherently causes harm or disadvantage.

have a negative impact on

Highlights the adverse effect on something, often in a broader or more indirect way.

take its toll on

Suggests a gradual or cumulative damaging effect over time.

wreak havoc on

Implies widespread destruction or disruption.

undermine the integrity of

Focuses on weakening or compromising the soundness or stability of something.

impair the function of

Highlights the reduction in effectiveness or ability to operate properly.

compromise the safety of

Emphasizes the act of endangering someone or something.

FAQs

How can I use "do damage to" in a sentence?

Use "do damage to" to indicate that something is causing harm or impairment. For example, "The storm did significant damage to the coastal areas".

What are some alternatives to "do damage to"?

You can use alternatives like "cause harm to", "inflict damage upon", or "cause detriment to" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "do damage to" or simply "damage"?

While "damage" can be used as a verb (e.g., "The fire damaged the building"), "do damage to" is often used to emphasize the action of causing damage, especially when a more descriptive verb isn't readily available.

What kind of things can "do damage to" something?

Many things can "do damage to" something, including natural disasters like storms and earthquakes, human activities like pollution, or even abstract concepts like stress.