face harm

USAGE SUMMARY

"face harm" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, you might use it in a sentence like, "She was afraid to speak out because she knew she would face harm if she did."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Australia cannot, under international law, send refugees back to countries in which they may face harm.

The Guardian

One paragraph of the complaint, in particular, illustrates Cramblett's belief that her child will inevitably face harm.

The New Yorker

Mr. Cuomo's office included in the legislation an exception for lobbying groups whose donors might face "harm, threats, harassment, or reprisals," like civil rights groups.

The New York Times

As well as Greece's afflictions, which may yet metastasise, many banks face harm from soured loans to Russia or to faltering oil firms.

The Economist

The Cuomo administration's two-year-old disclosure law — so far observed by about 80 organizations — allows exemptions for groups whose donors might face "harm, threats, harassment or reprisals".

The New York Times

Under the 1951 Refugees Convention, to which Australia is a party, and under customary international law, countries cannot "refoule" a person, that is, send them back to a place where they will face harm.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Do something similar in a charity and you face harming the vulnerable people your organisation most wants to help.

The Guardian

In a statement yesterday, the Health Department said that it had monitored the care at Chandler carefully, responded to complaints and led the final inspection that found that residents were facing harm.

The New York Times

If PNG were to return a person forcibly who was later found to be a refugee with a genuine fear of persecution to a place where they faced harm, Australia would be in breach of its international obligations, under "chain refoulement", where refugees are sent to a safe third country which ultimately returns them to persecution.

The Guardian

The humanoid needs a sensor to balance movement and equally needs heat and pain sensors to know when it faces harm or is being damaged.

Forbes

The problems for critics lie in the fact the reagents a) don't test for all chemicals, b) tell you nothing about the strength of the drug, and c) don't come with any face-to-face harm reduction advice.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about potential negative outcomes, use "face harm" to clearly convey the possibility of experiencing negative consequences or danger.

Common error

Avoid using "face harm" when describing situations where harm is already occurring. Instead, use it to indicate the potential or likelihood of experiencing harm in the future.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "face harm" functions as a verb phrase indicating the potential or likelihood of experiencing negative consequences or danger. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in describing risks associated with various situations, like seeking asylum or being in certain environments.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "face harm" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe the potential for encountering danger or negative consequences. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, with neutral formality. The phrase serves to warn or inform about potential risks. While "face harm" is correct, be mindful to use it when potential harm is discussed, and choose more appropriate phrasing when the harm is already realized.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encounter danger

Replaces "harm" with the more general term "danger", focusing on the possibility of negative outcomes.

risk injury

Specifically highlights the potential for physical harm.

confront peril

Highlights a situation involving serious and immediate danger.

be exposed to danger

Emphasizes the state of being vulnerable to harm.

be in jeopardy

Emphasizes a state of being at risk or in danger.

suffer damage

Focuses on the result of harm already inflicted.

be vulnerable to threat

Highlights the state of being susceptible to potential danger.

endure hardship

Focuses on experiencing difficult conditions or suffering.

meet with adversity

Indicates encountering challenging or unfavorable circumstances.

undergo suffering

Focuses on experiencing pain or distress.

FAQs

How can I use "face harm" in a sentence?

Use "face harm" to describe situations where someone or something might encounter danger or negative consequences, such as, "Refugees often "face harm" in their home countries, prompting them to seek asylum elsewhere".

What are some alternatives to saying "face harm"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "encounter danger", "risk injury", or "be exposed to danger".

Is it correct to say "faced harm" or should I always use "face harm"?

"Face harm" describes a potential future event. "Faced harm" indicates that the harm has already occurred. The correct tense depends on whether you are discussing a potential or past event.

What's the difference between ""face harm"" and "suffer harm"?

"Face harm" suggests the possibility of harm occurring, while "suffer harm" indicates that harm has already been experienced.