great potential for harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "great potential for harm" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing risks or dangers associated with a particular action, situation, or substance. Example: "The new chemical has great potential for harm if not handled properly, so safety precautions must be taken."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Although both are undesirable, society recognizes the need to ban that with great potential for harm.

The New York Times - Science

When the visual network functions abnormally, a great potential for harm is induced, possibly resulting in damage to cognitive function.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Cyclists and pedestrians are vulnerable on the roads, and what we're saying is that we should look at who brings the greatest potential for harm in a collision and shift the burden of proof from the vulnerable onto the powerful.

The Guardian

Right now, instead of paying the real costs of cheap meat up front, we are socializing the costs on society through higher healthcare costs, poisoned air and waterways, and in food safety, as evidence points to these facilities as incubators of both MRSA and resistant new flus, but also as using larger facilities means a greater potential for harm from contamination.

Huffington Post

Regarding innate immunity, impaired macrophage functions may protract the infection process, leading to increased pathogen longevity and greater potential for harm to the host.

Clinical interventions in aging

1– 4 With 17.7 million hospital admissions each year in England alone, 5 there is great potential for significant reduction in harm from even small improvements in this process.

British Journal of General Practice

Great potential for the reduction of self-harm lies in education and prevention, but limited resources in the developing world make these methods challenging.

Wikipedia

Drop attacks are often the first seizure-associated manifestation in LGS, and have the greatest potential for bodily harm.

Epilepsia

Clinically, however, a low intubation appears to have a much greater potential for actual harm than does a high one.

Critical Care

Adverse reactions have indeed been shown to be more common among older adults and to have greater potential for causing harm [ 14, 15].

Drugs and Aging

There is great potential for good here.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing potential negative outcomes, use "great potential for harm" to clearly communicate the significance of possible damage or injury. Always provide context to specify what is at risk.

Common error

Avoid using "great potential for harm" without supporting evidence or clear reasoning. Overuse can diminish its impact and create unnecessary alarm, ensure you can justify the magnitude of the potential harm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "great potential for harm" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It identifies a significant possibility of negative consequences, indicating a notable level of risk or danger. As shown in Ludwig, it emphasizes the magnitude of possible adverse outcomes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "great potential for harm" is a noun phrase that identifies a significant possibility of negative consequences, commonly used to express concern and caution. Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for a range of contexts, especially in science and news media. While it's important to use this phrase accurately and with supporting evidence, it effectively communicates the magnitude of potential risks. Alternatives like ""high risk of damage"" or ""significant danger"" can be used for similar effect, depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

high risk of damage

This alternative focuses on the measurable probability of damage occurring.

significant danger

This alternative highlights the presence of a considerable threat.

serious hazard

This alternative emphasizes the potential for a harmful condition or substance.

considerable threat

This alternative underlines the magnitude of a potential danger.

substantial peril

This alternative uses a more formal term for danger, suggesting a serious and immediate risk.

grave risk

This alternative emphasizes the severity of the potential danger.

major safety concern

This alternative specifies the area of concern related to potential harm.

heightened vulnerability

This alternative focuses on the increased susceptibility to harm.

increased likelihood of injury

This alternative explicitly mentions physical harm and its increased probability.

elevated possibility of adverse effects

This alternative points to a higher chance of negative outcomes or consequences.

FAQs

How can I use "great potential for harm" in a sentence?

You can use "great potential for harm" to describe situations, substances, or actions that could cause significant damage or injury. For example, "The new chemical has "great potential for harm" if not handled properly.".

What are some alternatives to saying "great potential for harm"?

Alternatives include "high risk of damage", "significant danger", or "serious hazard", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "potential for harm" or "great potential for harm"?

The choice depends on the severity of the risk you're describing. "Potential for harm" indicates a general risk, while ""great potential for harm"" suggests a higher likelihood or magnitude of negative consequences.

What's the difference between "potential for harm" and "likelihood of harm"?

"Potential for harm" refers to the possibility of harm occurring, while "likelihood of harm" expresses the probability of it occurring. "Great potential for harm" implies a significant possibility, not necessarily a high probability.