reduce harm to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reduce harm to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing actions or policies aimed at minimizing negative impacts or damage in various contexts, such as environmental, social, or health-related issues. Example: "The new regulations aim to reduce harm to wildlife by limiting industrial activities in protected areas."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

He said: "The objective should be to reduce harm to drug users and the way to do that is to let them know what they're using.

The Guardian - Music

In order to truly make an impact on this form of abuse and reduce harm to children, parents and families, we must focus on prevention and early intervention.

The Guardian

Further, the suit said, the law is already preventing company scientists from talking about reduced-harm products in public forums because the government has not ruled whether those products reduce harm to society as a whole, as required in the new law.

The New York Times

Despite the devastation and chaos of nearly four years of war, they are distributing humanitarian aid, negotiating with armed groups to reduce harm to civilians, advocating for the release of political prisoners, building the leadership capacity of unarmed grassroots leaders, creating a stronger public role for women, and addressing the lack of education.

The New Yorker

Standard imaging techniques need to be adapted to reduce harm to the foetus from X-rays because of their teratogenic and carcinogenic potential.

Insights into Imaging

The report also cites the lack of an overall strategy for figuring out whether plans to reduce harm to mammals are working.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

They also deserve access to experts from a variety of disciplines and perspectives who can inform their process and, if not eliminate, dramatically reduce harms to innocent people as a result of ill-informed policy decisions.

Huffington Post

It focuses on maximizing tourism's socioeconomic benefits in local communities, preserving cultural heritage, reducing harm to the environment and putting plans in place for sustainability.

The New York Times - Travel

Those in favour of tobacco harm reduction argue to the contrary that it reduces harm to people that, otherwise, would have continued as regular smokers, reduces harm more broadly arising from exposure to smoking, acts as a possible "halfway house" to stopping smoking and creates a market incentive for ever-better products to replace cigarettes.

The Guardian

There are options that increase yields while reducing harm to biodiversity, which should be the focus of future strategies.

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

It reduces harm to the public because if there's a dangerous individual, they can be restrained more quickly.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reduce harm to" when you want to convey a sense of responsibility and ethical consideration in decision-making and policy creation.

Common error

Avoid phrasing like "harm needs to be reduced" which is vague and less impactful. Instead, specify who or what is actively working to "reduce harm to" something or someone to convey agency and accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reduce harm to" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose or intention. It typically introduces actions designed to lessen or minimize negative effects on a specific target, as evidenced by examples in Ludwig, where the phrase is used to describe strategies for mitigating harm in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

58%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reduce harm to" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that serves to highlight actions intended to minimize negative impacts. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for a variety of contexts, particularly in science, news, and formal communications. Alternatives such as "mitigate damage to" or "lessen the impact on" offer similar meanings with slight variations. When using this phrase, specifying who is working to reduce the harm enhances clarity and impact. Remember it's more impactful than generic expressions. This phrase is frequent across authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mitigate damage to

Emphasizes lessening the severity of damage, shifting the focus from harm to concrete damage.

lessen the impact on

Focuses on decreasing the effect or influence on something, offering a broader scope than just harm.

alleviate risks for

Highlights the reduction of potential dangers or threats, specifically related to risks.

minimize dangers to

Stresses the act of making dangers as small as possible, directly addressing potential threats.

decrease the threat to

Concentrates on lowering the level of danger or menace, implying a proactive approach.

curtail the hazards for

Implies limiting or restricting the exposure to hazards, suggesting a controlled reduction.

temper the negative effects on

Suggests moderating or softening adverse outcomes, focusing on the effects rather than the initial harm.

ameliorate adverse outcomes for

Focuses on improving or making better unfavorable results, indicating a restorative approach.

ease suffering of

Specifically addresses the reduction of pain or distress, highlighting a compassionate goal.

reduce the exposure of

Focuses on limiting contact with harmful elements, particularly when physical or environmental exposure is relevant.

FAQs

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

Use "reduce harm to" to describe actions aimed at minimizing negative impacts. For example, "The objective should be to "reduce harm to" drug users by testing circulating drugs".

What phrases are similar to "reduce harm to"?

Alternatives include "mitigate damage to", "lessen the impact on", or "minimize dangers to", each subtly shifting the focus from harm to different aspects of impact reduction.

Is "reduce harm to" grammatically correct?

Yes, "reduce harm to" is grammatically sound and commonly used in various contexts, especially in discussions about safety, health, and environmental protection. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

What is the difference between "reduce harm to" and "prevent harm to"?

"Reduce harm to" implies minimizing existing or potential harm, while "prevent harm to" focuses on stopping harm from occurring in the first place. Prevention is proactive, while reduction is often reactive or mitigating.