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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
harms well
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "harms well" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear when it could be used, as it lacks context and does not form a coherent expression. Example: "The new policy harms well-being in the community." (Note: This is a hypothetical example, but the phrase itself remains awkward.)
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Formal & Business
Alternative expressions(5)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
Students should discuss potential harms well in advance of the project and be assisted in devising strategies to minimize risk.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
After a certain level of income that can take care of basic needs and relieve strain (some say $50,000 a year, some say $75,000), wealth makes hardly any difference to overall well-being and happiness and, if anything, only harms well-being: Extremely affluent people actually suffer from higher rates of depression.
News & Media
But modern armed forces are rapacious consumers of energy and kick out vast quantities of carbon – emissions that may contribute towards human harm well beyond the battlefield.
News & Media
Sparganum, the larval form of spirometra mansoni, can lead to the sparganosis in human being, and the harm well exceeds that caused by the adult worm.
Science
Further, the chemical persists underground, forming long-lasting plumes that may harm wells long after states enforce plans to stop blending MTBE into their gas.
Science & Research
The results suggest that bacteria affect genes that control life span, and that overuse of antibiotics could harm well-being and longevity in animals and perhaps even in humans.
Science & Research
The proposed cap should not harm well-functioning national markets which will only have a detrimental impact on consumers.
Formal & Business
But if you drink too much alcohol (especially at inopportune times), there may be significant harms as well.
Academia
On an individual level, any heavy smoker who might want to get screened should recognize that there can be harms as well as benefits.
News & Media
We have to consider as a House the harms as well as the benefits, and we have to consider the impacts on wider society".
News & Media
Now expert groups are proposing less screening for prostate, breast and cervical cancer and have emphasized that screening comes with harms as well as benefits.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When you intend to describe a negative impact, ensure clarity by using standard phrases such as "causes harm", "is detrimental", or "negatively impacts". This avoids confusion and ensures your message is easily understood.
Common error
Avoid combining "harms" directly with "well" unless you intend to use "well" as a separate adverb modifying another verb. Instead of forcing the phrase "harms well", choose more common and grammatically correct alternatives to communicate your intended meaning effectively.
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
2.2/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "harms well" does not function as a standard grammatical unit. Ludwig AI indicates that it is not a correct or clear phrase in written English. Instances where these words appear together are usually coincidental, not intentional phrases.
Frequent in
Science
33%
News & Media
33%
Formal & Business
33%
Less common in
Science
0%
News & Media
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "harms well" is grammatically incorrect and lacks clarity. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is not a standard or recommended phrase in English writing. While the individual words "harm" and "well" are common, their combination in this order does not create a coherent expression. To avoid confusion, it is best to use alternative phrases such as "causes harm", "is detrimental", or "negatively impacts", which clearly convey the intended meaning. These alternatives ensure your message is both accurate and easily understood in various contexts, from academic to informal settings.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
negatively impacts
Uses a more common and easily understood phrase to convey a negative effect.
adversely affects
Indicates a negative influence or impact on something.
is detrimental to
Expresses a harmful effect using the adjective "detrimental".
causes detriment
Replaces "harms" with a more formal synonym, "detriment", to indicate causing harm or damage.
undermines health
Specifically refers to actions or conditions that weaken or damage health.
inflicts harm upon
Uses a more formal and emphatic expression to describe causing harm.
impairs well-being
Focuses specifically on harming someone's well-being or state of health.
compromises safety
Focuses on harming or reducing the level of safety.
damages significantly
Emphasizes the extent of the harm caused, using "significantly" to highlight the impact.
creates hazards
Suggests that something is causing dangerous situations.
FAQs
How can I properly use the word "harm" in a sentence?
Use "harm" with verbs like "cause", "do", or "inflict", as in "cause harm", "do harm", or "inflict harm". Ensure the context clearly indicates what or who is being harmed.
What's a more correct way to express the idea behind "harms well"?
Instead of "harms well", use phrases like "is detrimental to", "negatively impacts", or "causes harm to" for better clarity and grammatical accuracy.
Is "harms well" ever grammatically correct?
The phrase "harms well" is rarely, if ever, grammatically correct. It's more likely that "harm" and "well" are intended to be used separately in a sentence, not as a direct phrase. For example, "The policy changes could harm well-established businesses."
What are some formal alternatives to "cause harm"?
Formal alternatives include phrases like "inflict damage", "induce injury", or "precipitate adverse effects", which are suitable for academic or professional writing.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
2.2/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested