harm to humanity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harm to humanity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in discussions about ethical issues, environmental concerns, or actions that negatively impact people or society as a whole. Example: "The new policy could lead to significant harm to humanity if not carefully evaluated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Global warming will result in major harm to humanity if left unchecked.

The Guardian - Opinion

The most unappealing outcomes would arise if extraterrestrials caused harm to humanity, even if by accident.

The Guardian

But in this case, their addled ruminations won't actually result in any harm to humanity.

Huffington Post

Even a civilization without malicious intent could inadvertently cause harm to humanity by not taking account of all the risks of their actions.

Wikipedia

Trump's denial of global warming, his indifference to the natural forces set in motion by our selfishness, indifference and neglect, have the potential to cause greater harm to humanity than any of the retrograde policies that he might enact during his presidency.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In spite of its vast potential to benefit humanity – and negligible likelihood of harm to human health or the environment – nine years after its creation, golden rice remains hung up in regulatory red tape with no end in sight.

The Guardian - Opinion

Any harm done to the environment, therefore, is harm done to humanity.

Independent

"Any harm done to the environment, therefore is harm done to humanity," Francis said.

The Guardian

Speaking to the United Nations, he declared a "right of the environment," saying, "any harm done to the environment.. is harm done to humanity".

Huffington Post

But our addictions are not only damaging our spirits, they are also causing irreparable harm to the biosphere and to humanity's future.

HuffPost

Objectification, therefore, constitutes a serious harm to a person's humanity.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing broad ethical considerations or potential global consequences, use "harm to humanity" to emphasize the widespread impact on all people. For instance, when assessing the effects of climate change or emerging technologies, this phrase effectively conveys the gravity of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "harm to humanity" in trivial or overly specific situations. This phrase carries significant weight and is best reserved for scenarios with genuinely widespread and severe implications. Using it inappropriately can diminish its impact and appear hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harm to humanity" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig AI shows it is used to identify actions or situations that cause widespread damage or suffering. The phrase serves to name things that are hurtful to the human race.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "harm to humanity" is a grammatically sound and impactful expression used to denote actions or circumstances that pose a threat to the well-being of the human race. Although relatively rare in everyday conversation, as shown by Ludwig AI, it frequently appears in news, scientific, and formal contexts to discuss global issues and ethical considerations. When using this phrase, ensure the context warrants its gravity, reserving it for situations with genuinely widespread and severe implications. Alternatives such as "damage to humankind" or "threat to human civilization" may be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. This phrase is correct and usable in written English, according to Ludwig AI.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

damage to humankind

Replaces "humanity" with "humankind", maintaining the same meaning but with a slight variation in word choice.

detriment to the human race

Substitutes "harm" with "detriment" and "humanity" with "the human race", altering the phrasing while preserving the core concept.

threat to human civilization

Changes "harm" to "threat" and "humanity" to "human civilization", shifting the focus to potential endangerment.

danger to all people

Simplifies the language by using "danger" instead of "harm" and "all people" instead of "humanity".

injury to the human population

Replaces "harm" with "injury" and specifies "human population" instead of the more abstract "humanity".

affliction to humankind

Uses "affliction" in place of "harm", adding a sense of widespread suffering.

assault on human welfare

Presents the concept as an "assault" against "human welfare", highlighting the negative impact on well-being.

menace to human existence

Emphasizes the severity of the threat by using "menace" and specifying "human existence".

problem for the future of humanity

Frames the "harm" as a "problem" affecting the "future of humanity", providing a temporal context.

setback to human progress

Positions the "harm" as a "setback" affecting "human progress", suggesting a hindrance to advancement.

FAQs

How can I use "harm to humanity" in a sentence?

You can use "harm to humanity" to describe actions or events that have widespread negative consequences for people globally. For example: "The development of autonomous weapons poses a significant "danger to humanity"."

What are some alternatives to "harm to humanity"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "damage to humankind", "threat to human civilization", or "detriment to the human race".

Is "harm to humanity" an appropriate phrase for academic writing?

Yes, "harm to humanity" is appropriate for academic writing when discussing ethical, social, or environmental issues with broad consequences. Ensure the context warrants the gravity of the phrase.

What distinguishes "harm to humanity" from "harm to individuals"?

"Harm to humanity" refers to widespread or systemic damage affecting a large portion of the global population, whereas "harm to individuals" concerns specific, localized negative impacts on one or more persons. The former has broader implications and scale.