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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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harms well

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE 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

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.

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

Huffington Post

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

The Guardian

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.

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

Science Magazine

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

Science Magazine

The proposed cap should not harm well-functioning national markets which will only have a detrimental impact on consumers.

Formal & Business

European Parliament

But if you drink too much alcohol (especially at inopportune times), there may be significant harms as well.

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

The New York Times

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

Independent

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

The New York Times
Show more...

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.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

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.

Expression frequency: Rare

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.

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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Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: