have sustained damage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have sustained damage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has experienced harm or injury over a period of time, often in contexts related to physical objects, structures, or systems. Example: "The building has sustained damage from the recent earthquake, requiring extensive repairs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Hundreds of dams, including two major ones, were found to have sustained damage.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They warned that such dams might have sustained damage that could cause them to fail even weeks later.

The New York Times

Mice exposed to radiation were found to have sustained damage to the cells lining their blood vessels - damage that could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The Guardian

Port-au-Prince had 11 hospitals, it says, adding: "Many hospitals have sustained damage but can continue to function, often with the help of NGOs".

The Guardian

Two of the patients' vision returned to normal over time, though their retinas may still have sustained damage, the doctors said.

The New York Times - Health

Experts outside China say many of the threatened dams and reservoirs were built along the well-recognized Longmenshan fault, and that the dams might have sustained damage that could make them fail weeks later.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

I wouldn't trust them, or any other administration, to dispense the money to the people who have sustained damages from this oil spill.

Huffington Post

Many of the most seriously wounded had sustained damage to their lower limbs, he said.

The Guardian

Officials said that 4,000 homes had been evacuated and that 15 had sustained damage.

The New York Times

The Silverton has sustained damage to her propeller shaft and is taking water forward.

The New York Times

He had sustained damage to his right arch in late May, coming off the field at Yankee Stadium after batting practice.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the extent of damage, follow "have sustained damage" with specific details about the type and severity of the damage. For example: "The building has sustained significant structural damage."

Common error

Avoid using "have sustained damage" without providing context. Instead of saying "The equipment has sustained damage", specify what kind of damage and its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have sustained damage" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something has experienced harm or injury. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use across various contexts. The auxiliary verb "have" indicates a present perfect tense, linking the past event of damage with its present state.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have sustained damage" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression to describe harm or injury. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its common usage spans across diverse sources, including news, science, and formal communications. While alternatives like "have incurred damage" and "have suffered damage" exist, understanding the subtle context-dependent nuances will give additional depth and clarity to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have incurred damage

Replaces "sustained" with "incurred", suggesting damage was acquired or brought about.

have suffered damage

Uses "suffered" instead of "sustained", implying a negative experience of undergoing damage.

have experienced damage

Replaces "sustained" with "experienced", focusing on the occurrence of damage.

have undergone damage

Similar to "have experienced damage", but emphasizes the process of being damaged.

have taken damage

Uses "taken" instead of "sustained", suggesting the damage was received or absorbed.

have been impaired

Shifts the focus to the resulting state of impairment due to damage.

have been harmed

Replaces "damage" with "harmed", emphasizing the injury or detriment caused.

have been affected

Focuses on the impact or influence of the damage.

have deteriorated

Suggests a gradual decline or worsening condition due to damage.

have been compromised

Indicates that the integrity or functionality has been weakened by damage.

FAQs

How can I use "have sustained damage" in a sentence?

Use "have sustained damage" to describe something that has been harmed or injured. For example, "The bridge "has sustained damage" due to the earthquake."

What's the difference between "have sustained damage" and "have suffered damage"?

While both phrases are similar, "have sustained damage" often implies a more gradual or ongoing process of damage, whereas "have suffered damage" suggests a more immediate or acute event. They are largely interchangeable, though subtle nuances exist.

What can I say instead of "have sustained damage"?

You can use alternatives like "have incurred damage", "have experienced damage", or "have taken damage" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "had sustained damage" instead of "have sustained damage"?

Yes, using "had sustained damage" is grammatically correct, but it places the damage in the past relative to another past event. For example, "The car had sustained damage before the accident" indicates the damage occurred earlier.