serious damage

USAGE SUMMARY

"serious damage" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can refer to physical damage, psychological damage, or damage done to one's reputation. For example, "The storm caused serious damage to homes in the neighborhood."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Serious damage to reservoirs.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Serious damage, no".

The New York Times

Patrick's car sustained serious damage.

The New York Times - Sports

But doing serious damage.

The Guardian

Little serious damage was done.

The Guardian - Books

Serious damage takes place quickly.

The Guardian - Music

Most had sustained serious damage.

The New York Times

Serious damage to dams, dikes, embankments.

Encyclopedia Britannica

You're capable of doing serious damage".

The New Yorker

Those isopods do some serious damage.

The New York Times

But serious damage has already been done.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the extent of damage, use specific details and quantifiable metrics (e.g., financial cost, percentage of affected area) to emphasize the severity and impact of the "serious damage".

Common error

Avoid pairing "serious damage" with overly vague descriptions. Instead of saying "serious damage occurred", specify what was damaged and how seriously (e.g., "serious damage to the building's structural integrity occurred, requiring extensive repairs").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serious damage" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes the degree or extent of harm inflicted upon something, as shown in Ludwig's examples such as "Patrick's car sustained serious damage" or "Officials said the quake caused serious damage in 94 villages."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

16%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "serious damage" is a grammatically sound and very common noun phrase used to describe a significant degree of harm. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for various contexts, especially in news reporting and scientific publications. The phrase indicates a notable negative impact and can be replaced with alternatives like "severe harm" or "substantial damage" depending on the specific nuance desired. When writing, use specific details to enhance the description and avoid vague language. Always aim for clarity and precision to convey the true extent of the damage being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severe harm

Replaces "damage" with "harm" and "serious" with "severe", emphasizing the intensity of the negative impact.

substantial damage

Substitutes "serious" with "substantial", indicating a considerable amount of damage.

major destruction

Replaces "damage" with "destruction" and "serious" with "major", highlighting the extent of the damage.

significant impairment

Uses "impairment" instead of "damage", focusing on the reduction of functionality or quality.

grave consequences

Shifts the focus to the results of the damage, emphasizing the severity of the outcomes.

critical failure

Implies a breakdown or malfunction resulting in significant negative effects.

extensive wreckage

Replaces "damage" with "wreckage" and "serious" with "extensive", emphasizing the widespread nature of the destruction.

devastating impact

Highlights the powerful and destructive effect of the damage.

irreparable harm

Focuses on damage that cannot be repaired or reversed.

profound detriment

Uses more formal vocabulary to describe significant harm or disadvantage.

FAQs

How can I use "serious damage" in a sentence?

You can use "serious damage" to describe the extent of harm caused to something. For instance, "The earthquake caused "serious damage" to several buildings" or "The scandal inflicted "serious damage" to his reputation".

What are some alternatives to "serious damage"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "severe harm", "substantial damage", or "major destruction" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "severely damaged" instead of "serious damage"?

Yes, "severely damaged" is a grammatically correct alternative. It emphasizes the intensity of the damage inflicted, whereas ""serious damage"" describes the state or extent of the damage.

What's the difference between "serious damage" and "minor damage"?

"Serious damage" implies significant harm, possibly requiring extensive repairs or replacement. "Minor damage", on the other hand, suggests superficial harm that can be easily fixed.