it has proven harmful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it has proven harmful" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the negative effects or consequences of a particular action, policy, or situation that has been demonstrated over time. Example: "The new policy, while well-intentioned, has proven harmful to employee morale and productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It has "proven harmful to the very institutions that it is seeking to benefit," she says.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Although I didn't expressly criticize Buzzfeed for allowing this item to be posted, and I mentioned that it came from a community member, I further asked Buzzfeed if they have concerns that this member is, unwittingly or not, using the Buzzfeed site to advance a questionable marketing effort to sell a service that has proven harmful to a lot of people.

Huffington Post

Since inappropriate empirical antibiotherapy has proven harmful in the treatment of bloodstream infections (BSI), the bacteria responsible for the systemic infection needs to be identified [ 5].

BMC Infectious Diseases

He discusses the lack of research on the environmental effects of crops like Bt corn -- the nickname for a number of corn varieties containing genes from Bacillus thuringiensis, a soil microbe toxic to certain pests -- at least one strain of which has proved harmful to butterflies.

The New York Times

In fact, in Mayor Bronin's view, the city has already been more open about its use of the technology than many other municipalities and, he suggested, a strong surveillance regime could mean avoiding police tactics like dragnets that have proven harmful in the past for poor and marginalized communities in the city.

Vice

The bags, they say, have proved harmful to wildlife which become entangled in them or think they are food.

BBC

Despite numerous studies, no adjunctive therapy has been shown yet to confer a survival advantage and several have proved harmful.

British Journal of Anaesthesia

It has proven hugely popular.

BBC

It has proven health benefits.

BBC

It has proven immensely popular.

Unicef

Not all drug-taking is harmful, but trying to stop it has proved extremely so.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "it has proven harmful", ensure you provide specific evidence or examples to support the claim. This adds credibility to your statement and allows the reader to understand the extent and nature of the harm.

Common error

Avoid using "it has proven harmful" without providing concrete examples or data to back up your assertion. Overstating the impact without supporting evidence can weaken your argument and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has proven harmful" functions as a declarative statement, asserting that something has been demonstrated to cause harm. Ludwig AI validates this usage, providing examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it has proven harmful" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that something has been demonstrated to cause harm. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is most commonly found in news, scientific, and business contexts, indicating its suitability for both neutral and formal registers. When using this phrase, it's crucial to provide supporting evidence to strengthen your claim. Consider alternatives like "it has been detrimental" or "it has had adverse effects" for variety. Be mindful of overstating the harm without adequate evidence to avoid weakening your argument.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has been detrimental

Changes the verb from 'proven' to 'been' and uses the adjective 'detrimental' to emphasize the harm caused.

it has had adverse effects

Replaces 'proven harmful' with 'had adverse effects' which focuses on the negative consequences experienced.

it has shown to be damaging

Uses 'shown to be damaging' to highlight the demonstration of harm, similar to 'proven harmful'.

it has turned out to be injurious

Employs 'turned out to be injurious' to suggest a revelation of harmfulness that wasn't initially apparent.

it has been counterproductive

Suggests that the action has had the opposite of the intended effect, implying harm through ineffectiveness.

it has backfired

A more informal way of saying something has had an unintended negative consequence.

it has been to the detriment of

Focuses on who or what has suffered as a result, providing a more specific context of harm.

it has wreaked havoc

A more emphatic way of stating the negative impact, suggesting widespread damage or disruption.

it has proven to be a disservice

Indicates that the action has ultimately been unhelpful or detrimental, despite intentions.

it has been a curse

Strongly emphasizes the extremely negative and unfortunate nature of the outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "it has proven harmful" in a sentence?

Use "it has proven harmful" to describe a situation, action, or policy that has been shown to cause negative effects or damage. For example, "The lack of investment in education "it has proven harmful" to the country's long-term economic prospects."

What are some alternatives to saying "it has proven harmful"?

You can use alternatives such as "it has been detrimental", "it has had adverse effects", or "it has shown to be damaging" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "it has proven harmful" or "it proved harmful"?

"It has proven harmful" implies an ongoing or sustained negative effect that has been demonstrated over time. "It proved harmful" suggests a one-time or past event that resulted in harm. The best choice depends on the specific context and whether the harm is still relevant.

What's the difference between "it has proven harmful" and "it has been harmful"?

"It has proven harmful" emphasizes the demonstration or verification of the harm. "It has been harmful" simply states the existence of harm without necessarily implying proof or verification. Therefore, ""it has proven harmful"" indicates there is evidence to support the claim, while "it has been harmful" does not necessarily carry that implication.