doing more harm than good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doing more harm than good" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing actions or decisions that have negative consequences that outweigh any positive effects. For example, "The new policy is doing more harm than good for the community." Alternative expressions include "causing more damage than benefit" and "having a detrimental effect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Are Shareholders Doing More Harm Than Good in Corporate America?

Cornell University

Is Your Anonymous Employee Survey Doing More Harm Than Good?

Forbes

"Shipping in food was doing more harm than good".

The New York Times

After a year, it's probably doing more harm than good.

The Guardian

He's doing more harm than good for this country.

The Guardian

But we may end up doing more harm than good.

The New York Times

But are they actually doing more harm than good?

The Washington Post

But much of the militarization is probably doing more harm than good.

Stanford University

In this case, I question whether getting the customer "engaged" is doing more harm than good!

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In most cases, such policies end up doing more harm than good.

University of California, Berkeley

"They're trying to help, but they're doing more harm than good," Bernstein says.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "doing more harm than good" to critically evaluate policies, interventions, or actions where the negative outcomes outweigh the intended benefits. Ensure the context clearly demonstrates the contrast between intent and result.

Common error

Avoid using "doing more harm than good" as a cliché. Provide specific examples or evidence to support the claim that the harm outweighs the good. Otherwise, it weakens your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doing more harm than good" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something that, despite good intentions, is causing more negative consequences than positive ones. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a widely used and accepted phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

23%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "doing more harm than good" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to critically assess situations where the negative outcomes outweigh the intended benefits. Ludwig AI validates its frequent usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academia. While it's important to avoid overuse as a cliché, the phrase serves as a powerful tool for highlighting unintended negative consequences. Alternative phrases like "causing more trouble than it's worth" or "proving counterproductive" can provide nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

causing more trouble than it's worth

Focuses on the balance between effort and negative consequences.

being more detrimental than beneficial

Emphasizes the negative impact outweighing the positive aspects.

creating more problems than it solves

Highlights the problem-solving attempt backfiring.

doing a disservice

Suggests actions are unhelpful or even damaging.

backfiring spectacularly

Implies a dramatic and negative reversal of intent.

proving counterproductive

Indicates the opposite outcome of what was intended.

worsening the situation

Focuses on the deterioration of circumstances.

exacerbating the problem

Highlights the aggravation of an existing issue.

compounding the issue

Suggests adding to the existing difficulties.

inflicting more damage than assistance

Emphasizes the damage caused over any help provided.

FAQs

How can I use "doing more harm than good" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to describe a situation where an action or intervention, intended to be helpful, actually causes more problems or damage. For instance, "The government's new economic policy, despite its good intentions, is "doing more harm than good" to small businesses".

What's a good alternative to "doing more harm than good"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "causing more trouble than it's worth", "being more detrimental than beneficial", or "proving counterproductive".

Is it correct to say "does more harm than good" instead of "doing more harm than good"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Doing more harm than good" is often used to describe an ongoing process or current situation, while "does more harm than good" describes a general tendency or characteristic.

What's the difference between "doing more harm than good" and "doing more damage than good"?

"Harm" refers to intangible detriments, whereas "damage" often implies physical or material detriment. The choice between "doing more harm than good" and "doing more damage than good" depends on whether the consequences are primarily emotional, social, or physical.