harm averted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harm averted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where potential harm or danger has been successfully avoided or prevented. Example: "Thanks to the quick response of the emergency services, significant harm was averted during the crisis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"It's very hard to prove a counterfactual," he told the journalist Jonathan Alter, "where you say, 'You know, things really could have been a lot worse.' " He was speaking of the bank and auto-industry bailouts, but the problem applies more broadly to the stimulus: harm averted is benefit unseen.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Most deontologists reject Taurek's radical conclusion that we need not be morally more obligated to avert harm to the many than to avert harm to the few; but they do accept the notion that harms should not be aggregated.

SEP

I will use any authority at my disposal to avert harm to Israel".

The Guardian

This study documents street-based female sex workers' experiences of client and intimate partners, examines the intersections of violence, alcohol use in condom use, and highlights survival strategies used to avert harm.

International Journal of Drug Policy

Indeed, every investment leads to greater social stability and more robust infrastructure to prevent further climate catastrophe, avert harm, and generate a virtuous cycle of financing (lower risk capital) to then flow toward low carbon investments.

Huffington Post

Sudden stressful events trigger the release of the "flight-or-fight" hormones (i.e., catecholamines) and other stress hormones in the brain, preparing the organism to cope with stress and avert harm.

Alcohol research : current reviews

But, once again, experts say the challenge lies in moving to the scales needed to avert widespread harm.

The New York Times - Science

But many climate experts who will attend say talking about more research will simply delay decisions that need to be made now to avert serious harm from global warming.

The New York Times - Science

Compromising the cap to that extent attests to the Fed's belief that a bailout is necessary to avert greater harm to the financial system and the broader economy.

The New York Times

He says that rock-bottom rates were one of several economic forces inflating the bubble and that, in any event, they were necessary at the time to avert greater harm to the economy.

The New York Times

BUSINESS DAY, PAGE C1 More Study vs. Quick Action As the Bush administration convenes a meeting to set its agenda for research on climate change, many experts who will attend say further study will only delay urgent action needed to avert serious harm.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "harm averted" when you want to emphasize that a negative outcome was successfully prevented, often through specific actions or interventions.

Common error

Avoid using "harm averted" to describe everyday situations with minimal consequences. The phrase is most effective when referring to significant potential damage or danger that has been successfully prevented. Save "harm averted" for critical situations where something truly negative was on the verge of occurring.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harm averted" functions as a noun phrase, often used as a subject complement or appositive. It indicates that a potential negative outcome or damage has been successfully prevented. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "harm averted" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to indicate that a potential negative outcome has been successfully prevented. While considered relatively formal, it's found in various contexts, especially in news and scientific reporting. It is crucial to use the phrase in situations where significant damage or danger has been successfully avoided. According to Ludwig, it’s appropriate for emphasizing successful prevention of negative consequences, as highlighted by the real-world examples provided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Damage prevented

Focuses on the prevention of damage, rather than just averting potential harm.

Danger avoided

Highlights the avoidance of danger, implying a threat was present.

Risk mitigated

Emphasizes the reduction of risk, often in a technical or business context.

Crisis averted

Specifically refers to the prevention of a crisis situation.

Threat neutralized

Implies a proactive action to eliminate a threat.

Negative impact reduced

Focuses on the lessening of a negative effect.

Adverse effects prevented

Highlights the prevention of unwanted or harmful effects.

Problem avoided

General term for preventing a problem from occurring.

Disaster avoided

Emphasizes the prevention of a major catastrophe.

Catastrophe prevented

Similar to disaster avoided, but with a stronger emphasis on the scale of the event.

FAQs

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

You can use "harm averted" to describe situations where potential damage or danger has been successfully avoided. For instance: "Thanks to the quick response, significant harm was averted."

What phrases are similar to "harm averted"?

Similar phrases include "damage prevented", "danger avoided", or "crisis averted", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "harm averted"?

It's appropriate to use "harm averted" when you want to emphasize that a negative outcome was successfully prevented, often through specific actions or interventions. This phrase is particularly suitable for scenarios involving significant potential damage or danger.

Is "harm averted" a formal or informal expression?

"Harm averted" is a relatively formal expression, suitable for professional, news, and scientific contexts. More informal situations might call for simpler phrasing like "trouble avoided".