greater damage

USAGE SUMMARY

"greater damage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been damaged more severely than something else. For example, "The powerful tornado caused greater damage than the hail storm that struck the village earlier in the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Investors have suffered even greater damage.

The New York Times

And far greater damage is likely if we do nothing.

The New York Times

The greater damage, in his view, was the way the leaks heightened suspicions among foreign leaders.

The New Yorker

By continuing to play, the player may have caused greater damage to his brain.

The Guardian - Sport

The Guardian has saved the agencies from much greater damage and embarrassment.

The Guardian - Opinion

And, in its failure, it is inflicting greater damage on an already weak economy.

The New York Times

Greater damage in minor collisions can increase an individual's out-of-pocket payments as well as future insurance premiums.

The New York Times

But some scientists argue that engineering nature to avoid environmental damage inevitably causes other, perhaps greater damage.

The New York Times - Science

And yet these shops make far easier targets than faceless mega-conglomerates or property developers, who cause incomparably greater damage.

The Guardian

In those cases — and in the case of FEAR — these spasms may prevent militants from causing greater damage.

The New Yorker

To stretch us even further, without proper investment, will cause greater damage to patients than this strike.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the impact of different events, use "greater damage" to clearly indicate which event caused more harm or destruction. For example, "The hurricane caused "greater damage" than the previous tropical storm."

Common error

Avoid using "greater damage" when you're not comparing it to something else. Instead of saying "The flood caused "greater damage"", specify the extent of the damage or compare it to a previous event. You might say, "The flood caused extensive damage" or "The flood caused more damage than the previous one".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "greater damage" functions primarily as a comparative noun phrase. It describes a higher degree or extent of damage compared to something else, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples involving comparisons of damage from different events or factors. It follows standard grammatical rules and is widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "greater damage" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to compare the extent of harm caused by different factors. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable. It is most common in News & Media and Science contexts, indicating its broad applicability. When using "greater damage", ensure a clear comparison is made and avoid using it in singular contexts without comparison. Consider alternative phrases like "more significant damage" or "more extensive damage" for variety. By following these guidelines, you can effectively communicate the relative severity of damage in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more significant damage

Replaces "greater" with "more significant", emphasizing the importance or impact of the damage.

more extensive damage

Substitutes "greater" with "more extensive", highlighting the broad scope or reach of the damage.

increased harm

Uses "harm" instead of "damage", focusing on the negative impact or injury caused.

worse destruction

Replaces both "greater" and "damage" with stronger terms, indicating a more severe level of devastation.

more severe impairment

Employs "impairment" instead of "damage", suggesting a reduction in function or ability.

larger scale destruction

Focuses on the magnitude and impact of the destruction using "larger scale".

amplified destruction

Implies that the damage or destruction has been intensified or increased.

more considerable damage

Emphasizes the substantial and noteworthy quality of the damage.

heightened degree of damage

Uses a more formal and descriptive tone, emphasizing the extent of the damage.

exacerbated harm

Suggests that the harm has been made worse or more intense.

FAQs

How can I use "greater damage" in a sentence?

Use "greater damage" to compare the extent of harm caused by two or more events or factors. For example, "The fire caused "greater damage" to the west wing than to the east wing."

What are some alternatives to using "greater damage"?

You can use alternatives like "more significant damage", "more extensive damage", or "increased harm" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the greater damage" without a comparison?

While grammatically possible, it's often clearer to specify what the damage is greater than. If no comparison is intended, consider using alternatives like "extensive damage" or "significant harm".

What's the difference between "greater damage" and "extensive damage"?

"Greater damage" implies a comparison, while "extensive damage" simply indicates a wide-ranging or significant degree of harm without needing a direct comparison.