major harm

USAGE SUMMARY

"major harm" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a catastrophic level of harm such as physical injury, financial loss, or psychological damage. For example: "The incident caused major harm to the victims and the surrounding community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

No harm done -- or at least no major harm.

The New York Times - Health

Erosion also does major harm to water quality.

The New York Times

Global warming will result in major harm to humanity if left unchecked.

The Guardian - Opinion

Although this did not save the stock from collapse, it did major harm to its employees.

The New York Times

The device is run by low-voltage 9 low-voltage 9y which cannot cause any major harm to human body.

Cornell University

The major harm from assignment to a non-active condition in such a trial could occur if failure to quit discourages smokers from trying to quit again.

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

The variation between recommendations reflects substantial differences in estimates of the major benefit (breast cancer mortality reduction) and the major harm (overdiagnosis).

The Breast

In fact, the major "harm" that is cited is that women may be recalled after a screening examination for a few extra pictures or an ultrasound study.

Harvard University

The court said of these episodes: "They created particularly malign social consequences, and brought major harm to the interests of the state and the people".

The New York Times

"I do understand for many people this was a stressful afternoon," he said, "but so far we have been able to avoid any major harm".

The New York Times

"I do understand for many people this was a stressful afternoon," he said, "but so far we've been lucky to avoid any major harm".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "major harm" when you want to emphasize the significant negative impact of an action or event. This phrase is suitable for formal and serious contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "major harm" to describe trivial or insignificant issues. Using it in such contexts can dilute its impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic. Reserve it for situations where the damage or consequences are genuinely severe.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "major harm" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically used as the object of a verb. Ludwig examples show it describing the consequence of an action, indicating the scope and significance of the damage caused. The phrase serves to quantify the extent of the negative impact.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

34%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "major harm" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote significant damage or negative consequences. Ludwig AI analysis and many examples illustrate its use across varied contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and academic domains. While versatile, it's best reserved for situations where the severity warrants the term. Consider alternatives like "serious damage" or "significant injury" for nuanced expressions. With its prevalence and clear meaning, "major harm" remains a valuable term for expressing substantial negative impacts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serious damage

Focuses on the tangible impact of the harm, emphasizing the extent of the damage caused.

significant injury

Emphasizes physical or emotional wounds, highlighting the severity of the injury sustained.

severe detriment

Highlights the negative consequences and long-term impact of the harm.

substantial loss

Focuses on the deprivation or forfeiture resulting from the harm.

considerable impairment

Highlights the reduction in function or ability caused by the harm.

grave consequences

Emphasizes the seriousness and far-reaching effects of the harm.

profound impact

Stresses the deep and lasting effect of the harm on individuals or systems.

critical compromise

Highlights the weakening or jeopardizing of essential functions or systems.

dire repercussions

Emphasizes the negative and potentially irreversible outcomes of the harm.

catastrophic effect

Highlights the scope and intensity of the harm, emphasizing widespread devastation.

FAQs

How to use "major harm" in a sentence?

You can use "major harm" to describe significant negative consequences, such as "The oil spill caused "major harm" to the marine ecosystem" or "The data breach inflicted "major harm" on the company's reputation".

What can I say instead of "major harm"?

You can use alternatives like "serious damage", "significant injury", or "severe detriment" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "major harm" or "serious harm"?

Both ""major harm"" and "serious harm" are correct, but ""major harm"" might imply a greater degree of damage or consequence than "serious harm". The best choice depends on the context and the level of impact you want to convey.

What's the difference between "major harm" and "minor harm"?

"Major harm" refers to substantial damage or negative consequences, while "minor harm" refers to slight or insignificant damage. The distinction lies in the severity and impact of the harm caused.