harm upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harm upon" is not a common or grammatically correct phrase in written English.
It would be more appropriate to use "harm inflicted" or "causing harm." Example: The bully's actions inflicted harm upon the victim's mental well-being.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was talking about the timeline for June, not wishing physical harm upon her rival.

The New York Times

This prevents people from taking medical advice from someone unqualified and inflicting harm upon them.

The Economist

But there are others who may have inflicted harm upon Baha who have never been brought to account.

The Guardian

Our enemies may mock our free society, may plot against us and sometimes succeed in attacking us and bringing great harm upon our country.

The New York Times

Then he inflicts harm upon his opponents again, in every phase of the game, all with a huge smile on his face.

The New York Times - Sports

"Back to Syria". She pressed them further on whether the government could give assurances that the woman would suffer no "irreparable harm" upon her arrival in Syria.

The Guardian

The special assessment as administered here has worked no constitutional harm upon those nonunion employees who raised a general objection at the beginning of the year.

Cornell University

An article concerning a company's financial difficulty must be handled very carefully, with a sense of balance, because of its potential to inflict great harm upon the subject.

The Economist

(ii) Would suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm upon removal from the United States, as provided in 8 CFR 214.11(i).

Cornell University

Many Libyan citizens stood in a long line to take a final look at the man who inflected harm upon each and every one of us through four decades of his dictatorship.

The Guardian - Opinion

To devise an outsider, however cheaply made up, who prepares to inflict harm upon mankind by going through the traditional motions of love — of parental love, moreover — is an inspiringly fiendish touch.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "harm upon" appears in various sources, prefer using grammatically standard alternatives like "inflict harm on" or "cause harm to" for clearer and more precise writing.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on the phrase "harm upon" in formal contexts. Overuse can make your writing sound unnatural. Instead, vary your phrasing by incorporating synonyms and different sentence structures to maintain reader engagement and demonstrate a broader vocabulary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harm upon" functions as a predicate complement, often following verbs like inflict or bring. It indicates the recipient of the harm or damage being caused. However, Ludwig AI points out that it is not a grammatically standard expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "harm upon" appears frequently across diverse sources like news, academia, and science, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Standard alternatives such as "cause harm to" or "inflict harm on" are recommended for clearer and more precise communication. Despite its common occurrence, especially in news and academic contexts, opting for grammatically correct alternatives enhances the quality and professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cause harm to

Replaces "upon" with "to", creating a more standard and grammatically sound phrase.

inflict harm on

Switches the preposition and uses a stronger verb, emphasizing the action of causing harm.

do harm to

Uses a simpler verb and preposition, offering a less formal way to express the concept.

bring harm to

Focuses on the result of bringing about harm, shifting the emphasis slightly.

cause damage to

Replaces "harm" with "damage", highlighting the negative impact or injury caused.

be detrimental to

Uses a formal tone to indicate something is harmful or unfavorable.

create problems for

Uses more general terms like "problems" instead of "harm", broadening the scope of the phrase.

pose a risk to

Highlights the potential danger or threat involved.

have a negative impact on

Emphasizes the effect or consequence, shifting the focus from the direct action.

endanger

Single-word verb implying the act of putting someone or something in danger or at risk of harm.

FAQs

Is "harm upon" grammatically correct?

While you might find the phrase "harm upon" in various sources, it is not considered grammatically correct. Consider using phrases like "inflict harm on" or "cause harm to" instead.

What are some alternatives to "harm upon"?

You can use alternatives such as "cause harm to", "inflict harm on", or "do harm to" depending on the context.

How can I use "inflict harm on" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "The dictator's policies inflicted great harm on the nation's economy."

What is the difference between "harm upon" and "inflict harm on"?

"Harm upon" is not standard English. "Inflict harm on" is a grammatically correct phrase that means to cause damage or injury to someone or something.