it causes damage to

USAGE SUMMARY

This part of a sentence is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing something that is detrimental or destructive to something else. For example, you could say: "Driving without a seatbelt can be dangerous; it causes damage to both the car and the driver."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

"You could argue it causes damage to his own client's case".

The New York Times

In port areas it causes damage to structures and sewage systems because it is an active reef builder.

Journal for Nature Conservation

"I think what you're seeing is sort of last-ditch efforts by people who are unreconciled to my nomination to derail it, even if it causes damage to the party, and they've failed at every stop so far," he told reporters.

The New York Times

Sodium replacing adsorbed calcium and magnesium is a hazard as it causes damage to the soil structure.

Applied Water Science

Sodium, when replacing adsorbed calcium and magnesium becomes hazardous as it causes damage to the soil structure.

Applied Water Science

It causes damage to cell morphology and inhibits the cytoplasmic enzyme due to oxidative stress (Bulgariu and Bulgariu 2014).

Applied Water Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

It caused damage to the Labour party and it caused damage to trust.

The Guardian

(Twelve per cent supported such a move even if it caused damage to "environmentally important areas").

The New Yorker

The heat from the fire was so intense it caused damage to the roadway, Troy Roberts of the Florida Department of Transportation said at a news conference Friday.

The Washington Post

He tripped it, causing damage to his armor.

TechCrunch

It caused damage to DNA and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, released cytochrome c, and led to mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis [3,28,29].

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "it causes damage to", be specific about what "it" refers to and what is being damaged. Clear context enhances understanding and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it causes damage to" in overly passive constructions. Active voice often makes your writing more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "The storm caused damage to the building", consider "The storm damaged the building".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it causes damage to" functions as a transitive verb phrase. It expresses a cause-and-effect relationship, where "it" is the subject causing harm or impairment to something else. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase indicates something detrimental or destructive.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it causes damage to" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a cause-and-effect relationship where something results in harm. As Ludwig AI indicates, it highlights a detrimental impact. While generally neutral, its formality can be adjusted with synonyms like ""it is detrimental to"" (more formal) or "it harms" (less formal). Context is crucial; be specific about what "it" refers to and the nature of the damage. Avoid overuse in passive constructions for more impactful writing. Primarily used in scientific and news-related contexts, this phrase serves to inform about negative consequences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it inflicts harm on

Replaces "damage" with "harm" and "causes" with "inflicts", focusing on the negative impact.

it is detrimental to

Shifts the focus to the detrimental effect, using a more formal tone.

it has a damaging effect on

Emphasizes the effect as damaging, changing the sentence structure.

it leads to deterioration of

Highlights the process of deterioration as a result of the subject.

it results in impairment of

Uses more formal vocabulary to convey the consequence of impairment.

it compromises the integrity of

Focuses on the compromise of integrity, suggesting a weakening or corruption.

it degrades

A more concise way of saying something is being damaged, by degrading its components.

it ruins

A more emphatic and less formal way of expressing damage.

it harms

A more concise way of saying something inflicts damage.

it impairs

Indicates a weakening or diminishing effect, rather than total destruction.

FAQs

What are some synonyms for "it causes damage to"?

Alternatives include "it inflicts harm on", "it is detrimental to", or "it has a damaging effect on" depending on the context.

How can I make my sentence more specific when using "it causes damage to"?

Ensure you clearly define what "it" refers to and precisely what type of damage is occurring. For example, instead of saying "The chemical causes damage to the environment", specify "The chemical runoff causes significant damage to aquatic ecosystems".

Is "it causes damage to" formal or informal?

The phrase "it causes damage to" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "it results in impairment of" might be preferable in academic or professional writing.

When should I use a more direct verb instead of "it causes damage to"?

If possible, replace the phrase with a single, more descriptive verb. For instance, instead of "The fire it causes damage to the forest", you could say "The fire devastated the forest".