superficial wounds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "superficial wounds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe injuries that affect only the outer layer of the skin and do not penetrate deeper tissues. Example: "The doctor examined the patient's arm and confirmed that the injuries were only superficial wounds, requiring minimal treatment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The woman survived with superficial wounds.

The Guardian

Others suffered superficial wounds, police union official Gilles Debove said.

The Guardian

The firefighters had superficial wounds from the explosive, he said.

The New York Times

A driver had escaped with only superficial wounds to an arm.

The Guardian

"Some of them have wounds, but I think most of them are superficial wounds.

The Guardian

A finger on his right hand was fractured, and he had other superficial wounds.

The New York Times

Hearing "Perform a secondary survey," we examined chests and backs for superficial wounds.

The New York Times

These are not superficial wounds, said Dr. James Fortenberry, the pediatrician in chief at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

The New York Times

There were no serious injuries but plenty of superficial wounds from smacking the road, race officials said.

The New York Times - Sports

The ministry said that 72 people remain in the hospital, while more than 3,000 people have been treated for mostly superficial wounds.

The New York Times

The planes came back a second time, seriously injuring those who had managed to scramble out of their vehicles with only superficial wounds.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing injuries, use "superficial wounds" to clearly indicate that they are not deep or life-threatening, providing reassurance or downplaying the severity of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "superficial wounds" when the injuries are actually deep or require significant medical attention. This can mislead readers about the true extent of the harm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "superficial wounds" functions as a descriptive term, modifying the noun "wounds" to specify their nature. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is a standard English expression. The adjective "superficial" indicates that the wounds are not deep or serious.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

44%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "superficial wounds" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe injuries that only affect the outer layer of the skin. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable phrase in written English. It is frequently found in scientific and news contexts to convey that the injuries are not severe or life-threatening. Alternatives like "minor injuries" or "surface injuries" can be used depending on the specific context. When using this phrase, ensure that the injuries truly are superficial to avoid misrepresenting the situation. The prominence of the phrase across reputable sources underscores its acceptance and utility in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor injuries

Refers to injuries that are not severe or life-threatening.

surface injuries

Highlights that the injuries are only on the surface of the skin.

slight injuries

Emphasizes the minimal severity of the injuries.

minor cuts

Specifically refers to cuts that are small and not deep.

surface abrasions

Focuses on injuries where the skin is scraped but not deeply cut.

trivial injuries

Indicates that the injuries are of little consequence.

skin-deep injuries

A more figurative way of saying the injuries don't go beyond the skin.

light wounds

Highlights that the injuries are not severe in their impact.

non-serious injuries

Indicates the injuries do not pose a significant health risk.

insignificant injuries

Downplays the importance or impact of the injuries.

FAQs

How to use "superficial wounds" in a sentence?

You can use "superficial wounds" to describe injuries that only affect the outer layer of the skin. For example, "The doctor confirmed that the patient's injuries were only superficial wounds and did not require stitches."

What can I say instead of "superficial wounds"?

You can use alternatives like "minor injuries", "surface injuries", or "slight injuries" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "superficial wound" or "superficial wounds"?

"Superficial wound" refers to a single injury, while "superficial wounds" refers to multiple injuries. The choice depends on whether you are describing one or more injuries.

What's the difference between "superficial wounds" and "open wounds"?

"Superficial wounds" describe the depth of the injury (only affecting the surface), while "open wounds" describe whether the skin is broken. A wound can be both open and superficial, or open and deep. You can find more information on "open wounds" here.