incur damage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incur damage" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the act of experiencing harm or harm developing as a result of something. For example, "The roof of the house was in disrepair, and heavy rains soon caused it to incur damage."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

incur damage (from being attacked) depends on both his security and the network security.

University of California, Berkeley

The user's probability to incur damage (from being attacked) depends on both his security and the network security.

University of California, Berkeley

Due to HD, circuits connecting the caudate nucleus, frontal, and parietal lobes may incur damage, resulting in a lack of self-awareness.

Stanford University

In some cases, pressure building within the bladder can be transmitted to the kidneys; without medications or more frequent bladder emptying to relieve the pressure, the kidneys will incur damage.

Britannica

We reasoned that altered membrane fluidity in the erg26 mutant might incur damage to the mitochondrial membrane thereby causing mitochondrial DNA loss.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

As we age, stem cells incur damage due to features of both chronological and replicative aging, especially stem cells in rapidly replicating tissues such as the gut, skin, and blood (Liu & Rando, 2011).

Aging Cell

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Whoever loses the case in South Africa won't incur damages but will have to pay costs running into tens of millions of pounds.

The Guardian

When particle's wave velocity resulting from mining blasts exceeds a certain level, then the intensity of produced vibrations incur damages to the structures around the blasting regions.

Journal of African Earth Sciences

In its lawsuit, Relativity said it would incur damages of about $50 million because of Citigroup's efforts to raise the interest rate on a $375 million revolving line of credit.

The New York Times

Indeed, the joint clearly transfers the load between the steel and PSC segments without incurring damage.

Engineering Structures

A plane's elevator, a device on the horizontal stabilizer, somehow incurred damage while parked at the gate.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the cause of the damage, use active voice to clearly indicate what led to the damage being incurred. For example, "The storm caused the building to "incur damage"" is more direct than "The building "incurred damage" due to the storm".

Common error

Avoid using "incur damage" when referring to potential or hypothetical harm. "Incur" implies that the damage has already happened. Use phrases like "risk damage" or "be susceptible to damage" when discussing possible future harm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incur damage" functions as a verb phrase, where "incur" is a transitive verb meaning to bring upon oneself, and "damage" is a noun representing harm or loss. As Ludwig AI says, this phrase refers to the act of experiencing or developing harm.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

25%

News & Media

25%

Academia

12.5%

Less common in

Wiki

12.5%

Encyclopedias

12.5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "incur damage" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that signifies experiencing harm or loss. As Ludwig AI points out, it's suitable for describing situations where damage has already occurred. While not extremely common, it appears in a variety of contexts, especially in science, news, and academic writing. When using the expression, it's crucial to ensure the damage has actually taken place rather than being a potential risk. Alternatives like "sustain injuries" or "experience harm" can be used depending on the specific context. The source analysis reveals that while all sources are high authority, reputable news outlets, scientific publications, and academic institutions give the usage a higher degree of credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experience harm

A more general term for undergoing negative effects or detriment.

sustain injuries

Focuses specifically on physical harm or wounds sustained.

be subjected to damage

A more passive construction indicating that damage is inflicted.

suffer losses

Emphasizes the aspect of losing something valuable as a result.

become impaired

Focuses on the resulting diminished functionality or condition.

bear the brunt

Implies taking the main force or impact of something damaging.

be affected detrimentally

A formal way of saying something has been negatively impacted.

encounter setbacks

Highlights obstacles or delays experienced due to negative impacts.

receive a blow

Highlights a sudden negative impact or setback.

take a hit

An informal phrase suggesting experiencing negative consequences.

FAQs

How can I use "incur damage" in a sentence?

You can use "incur damage" to describe something experiencing harm or loss. For example, "The car "incurred damage" in the accident" or "The company "incurred damage" to its reputation after the scandal".

What are some alternatives to saying "incur damage"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "sustain injuries", "experience harm", or "suffer losses".

Is it correct to say "avoid incurring damage"?

Yes, it is correct. "Avoid incurring damage" means to take actions to prevent damage from happening. For example, "Proper maintenance can help avoid incurring damage".

What's the difference between "incur damage" and "cause damage"?

"Incur damage" means to experience or receive damage, while "cause damage" means to be the source or reason for the damage. A storm can "cause damage", and a building can "incur damage" as a result.