lead to harm

USAGE SUMMARY

"lead to harm" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when describing potential negative consequences of an action or situation. For example: "A lack of safety regulations could lead to harm for employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In many online groups, people use pseudonyms and this can reduce the risk that they may share harmful content that may lead to harm to others.

Current Psychiatry Reports

Anonymity can indeed lead to harm.

The New York Times

There is a distinct difference between Mustafa's tweet and real, actionable online threats that can genuinely lead to harm.

The Guardian - Opinion

Shojaei added: "In reality, this kit is neither religious, nor political, nor will it lead to harm to a player.

Independent

And it is sex workers who, every day, bear the brunt of actions intended to help us but which in reality lead to harm.

The Guardian

It ruled that the ad must not appear again in its current form, adding: "We told the Health Lottery to ensure that their ads in future did not encourage or condone gambling behaviour that could lead to harm".

The Guardian

Peak medical colleges and consumer groups will collaborate in this national initiative to identify tests, treatments and procedures that are commonly used but can often provide no or limited benefit to the patient and in some cases, lead to harm.

The Guardian - Opinion

"However, the purity of what they buy is dramatically higher than a few years ago and if you are using a typical amount but the drug has a much higher strength, this can potentially lead to harm".

The Guardian

About 50 professors signed a statement on Sunday arguing "there is no empirical evidence whatsoever that the presence of concealed guns on campus will promote student safety, and ample reason to believe that it will lead to harm".

The Guardian

For advice, staff can turn to unions and professional associations, with some including doctors and registered nurses being obliged to report misconduct which may lead to harm to patients.

The Guardian

But in fact, except for a few types of cancer, routine screening has not been proven to reduce the death toll from cancer for people without specific symptoms or risk factors — like a breast lump or a family history of cancer — and could even lead to harm, many experts on health say.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about potential risks, use "lead to harm" to clearly and directly state that an action or situation could have negative consequences for someone's well-being or safety.

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid overusing "lead to harm" in highly formal or academic writing. Consider stronger, more precise verbs like 'cause', 'result in', or 'precipitate' to convey causality with greater impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lead to harm" functions as a causative verb phrase, indicating that a particular action, situation, or condition can result in negative consequences. Ludwig's examples show it commonly describes potential risks and unintended outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lead to harm" is a versatile phrase used to express the potential for negative consequences arising from various situations. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across a range of contexts. While it is commonly found in news, media, and scientific sources, it's advisable to use stronger verbs in highly formal contexts for greater impact. Remember to carefully assess the potential risks and benefits of actions, considering whether they might "lead to harm".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

result in damage

Focuses on the damaging consequence as the outcome.

cause injury

Specifically emphasizes physical or emotional injury as a result.

bring about negative consequences

Highlights the adverse results of an action or situation.

give rise to problems

Indicates the creation or emergence of difficulties.

contribute to detriment

Emphasizes the act of adding to something harmful or damaging.

endanger well-being

Focuses on placing someone's health or happiness at risk.

pose a threat to safety

Highlights the potential risk and insecurity created.

precipitate adverse effects

Stresses the hastening or acceleration of negative effects.

be detrimental to health

Specifically relates to the damaging effects on one's physical or mental state.

open the door to adversity

Implies creating opportunities for hardship or misfortune.

FAQs

How can I use "lead to harm" in a sentence?

You can use "lead to harm" to describe how an action, situation, or condition might cause damage, injury, or negative consequences. For example, "Ignoring safety protocols can "lead to harm" for workers".

What are some alternatives to "lead to harm"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "result in damage", "cause injury", or "bring about negative consequences".

Is it better to say "lead to harm" or "cause harm"?

Both "lead to harm" and "cause harm" are grammatically correct and widely used. "Cause harm" might be slightly more direct, while "lead to harm" can imply a more gradual or indirect path to negative consequences.

What's the difference between "lead to harm" and "potentially harmful"?

"Lead to harm" describes a process or situation that can directly cause harm, whereas "potentially harmful" describes something that has the capacity to cause harm, but may not necessarily do so.