societal harm

USAGE SUMMARY

"societal harm" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the damage that certain behaviors, decisions, or actions have on the society as a whole. For example, "The decision to cut funding from public health initiatives has caused a lot of societal harm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

In February, the courts rejected the claim, citing wangbas' societal harm.

The New York Times - Tech

In Medical nemesis, Ivan Illich coined the phrase "medicalisation of health", postulating that, as well as doing good, medicines can cause clinical and societal harm.

The Guardian

Many liberals (me included) see societal harm from rights claimed by Second Amendment supporters and would like to see more restrictions.

The New York Times

Blindly forcing the use of interventions like feeding tubes to sustain the length of biological life will do irreparable societal harm and threaten everything I seek to achieve as a doctor.

The New York Times

Likewise, many conservatives see societal harm caused by rights claimed by First Amendment supporters (too easy access to pornographic and violent media content, for example) and would like to see more restrictions.

The New York Times

None, however, compare in size, in societal harm, or in the puzzles that Lusi continues to present to scientists.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Dr King also described this section on "societal harms" as "a hotchpotch of anecdotes, media reports and speculation".

The Guardian - Opinion

The council's chairman, Prof Les Iversen, said: "The review found insufficient evidence of either health or societal harms caused by the use of qat to justify its control in the UK".

The Guardian

First, let us consider the societal harms.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

(And which might disadvantage them or generate wider societal harms).

TechCrunch

Neither Zuckerberg nor Pichai directly addressed the notion of overly powerful platforms themselves causing structural societal harms, such as by eroding the civically minded institutions that are essential to defend free societies and indeed uphold the rule of law.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing potential consequences of actions or policies, use "societal harm" to underscore the broad, collective impact rather than focusing solely on individual effects. This makes the argument more persuasive and highlights the wider implications.

Common error

Avoid using "societal harm" as a catch-all phrase. Instead, identify the specific type of harm, such as economic inequality, environmental degradation, or public health crises, for more precise and impactful communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "societal harm" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It refers to the negative consequences or damage inflicted upon a society, as highlighted by the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "societal harm" is a noun phrase denoting negative consequences affecting society as a whole. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in diverse contexts. While relatively uncommon, its usage spans news, scientific, and formal domains. Related phrases include "detriment to society" and "damage to the social fabric", offering nuanced alternatives. When using "societal harm", aim for specificity rather than broad generalizations to enhance clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

societal damage

Uses a direct synonym for "harm", maintaining a high degree of similarity.

detriment to society

Focuses on the damaging effects on society.

harmful societal consequences

Emphasizes the long-term effects of the harm.

damage to the social fabric

Emphasizes the destruction of social connections and structures.

negative impact on community well-being

Highlights the reduction in overall welfare of a community.

adverse effects on society

Uses more formal language to convey the negative impact.

social cost

Focuses on the economic burden placed on society.

erosion of social values

Concentrates on the decline of ethical principles within a society.

social degradation

Implies a decline in the quality and integrity of social structures.

undermining of societal norms

Highlights the weakening of accepted behaviors and standards.

FAQs

How can I use "societal harm" in a sentence?

You can use "societal harm" to describe the negative impact of a policy or action on a community or society as a whole. For example, "The lack of access to affordable healthcare can lead to significant "societal harm"".

What are some alternatives to using "societal harm"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "detriment to society", "damage to the social fabric", or "negative impact on community well-being".

Is it correct to say "social harm" instead of "societal harm"?

While "social harm" and "societal harm" are often used interchangeably, "societal harm" emphasizes the impact on society as a whole, while "social harm" can sometimes refer to harm within a smaller social group or context. Therefore, it's best to always use "societal harm" in order to emphasize the overall impact on a group of people.

What's the difference between "societal harm" and "economic impact"?

"Societal harm" encompasses a broader range of negative consequences, including social, ethical, and cultural impacts. "Economic impact", on the other hand, specifically refers to the financial or economic effects on a society or group. Thus, "societal harm" can be very diverse and not always economic.