indirect harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "indirect harm" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe negative effects or damage that occur as a result of an action or situation, but not in a direct manner. Example: "The new policy may lead to indirect harm to the community, affecting those who rely on public services."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

For example, when firms (or individuals) cause indirect harm to others (externalities) and when individuals do not sufficiently contribute to public goods.

University of California, Berkeley

Yet because contraceptive availability changes individual choices in ways that can transform social norms about sex, it can cause indirect harm.

The New York Times

According to the estimates of plaintiffs' lawyers, more than 100,000 entities in Florida will make what are known as proximity claims, which are based on arguments of indirect harm.

The New York Times

Subsequently, results might be misused by commercial and government institutions alike to assess eligibility for health, economic and social privileges resulting in indirect harm to patients (Bauer et al. 2017).

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

We all know, however, that though stereotypes are a tool for comedy and a valuable heuristic, they can cause indirect harm.

Huffington Post

While not as dangerous as Ironic Gossip Girl/Hipster Hockey Fan, Reality Show Mom can cause indirect harm in the form of early-onset adult depression thanks to the sheer ubiquity of the breed and its influence over popular culture.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Morbidity/ mortality involving the drug: reports of direct or indirect harms associated with synthetic cannabinoid use.

Human Psychopharmacology

While none of these findings is likely to have directly affected the individuals whose samples and/or data were analyzed, to the degree that these reports support potentially unfavorable conclusions about the populations from which participants were drawn, they could be regarded as posing indirect harms to both individuals and groups.

BMC Medical Ethics

As narrow as the law is when it comes to indirect physical harm, it is narrower when the harm is indirect and economic.

The New York Times

On this view, the distinction between direct and indirect harmful agency is what underlies the moral significance of the distinction between intended and merely foreseen harms, but it need not align perfectly with it.

SEP

The second type is indirect damage in which the insect itself does little or no harm but transmits a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection into a crop.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing complex issues, use "indirect harm" to acknowledge negative consequences that are not immediately obvious or directly caused by a specific action. This shows a nuanced understanding of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "indirect harm" when a more direct cause-and-effect relationship is evident. Using it inappropriately can weaken your argument and suggest uncertainty where there is none.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indirect harm" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It often serves as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause, describing a type of harm that is not the direct or immediate result of an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "indirect harm" is a noun phrase used to describe negative consequences that are not directly or immediately caused by a specific action. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts, with less common usage in encyclopedias and wikis. When writing about complex situations, using "indirect harm" can demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the issue, but be careful not to use it when a direct cause-and-effect relationship is more appropriate. Alternatives include "secondary damage", "collateral damage", and "unintended consequences".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secondary damage

Focuses on the damage being a consequence of something else.

collateral damage

Emphasizes unintended or incidental harm.

unintended consequences

Highlights that the harm was not the primary goal or intention.

trickle-down effect

Suggests harm that spreads indirectly from one point to others.

knock-on effect

Implies a chain reaction where the harm is a later result.

downstream consequences

Describes effects occurring later in a sequence of events.

ancillary damage

Emphasizes the harm is supplementary or auxiliary.

incidental impairment

Focuses on the harm being unplanned and subordinate.

remote harm

Indicates that the harm is not immediately or obviously linked to the cause.

derivative harm

Describes the harm being derived or obtained from an original source.

FAQs

How can I use "indirect harm" in a sentence?

You can use "indirect harm" to describe situations where the negative consequences are not immediately apparent or are a result of a chain of events. For example: "The policy change led to "indirect harm" to small businesses."

What are some alternatives to "indirect harm"?

Alternatives to "indirect harm" include "secondary damage", "collateral damage", or "unintended consequences", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "indirect harm" and "direct harm"?

"Direct harm" refers to immediate and obvious negative effects, while "indirect harm" refers to negative effects that occur as a result of a chain of events or are not immediately apparent.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "indirect harm"?

The phrase "indirect harm" is appropriate in contexts where the negative consequences are not the primary or intended result of an action, but rather a side effect or a later consequence. This is common in discussions of policy, economics, and environmental issues.