the only harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the only harm" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a specific negative consequence or impact that is being highlighted as the sole issue in a situation. Example: "While there were many challenges in the project, the only harm was a slight delay in the timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Because that is not the only harm at all.

Columbia University

"The only harm is that you're having to pay for it".

The New York Times - Health

The only harm it is prepared to acknowledge is caused, according to this logic, by feminists and police officers.

The Guardian - Opinion

The only harm we ever done you was for your own good and you must not forget that".

The New Yorker

He decided that the only harm could come from ultraviolet rays and that the window glass would screen those.

The New York Times - Books

The only harm done by weak oil prices today seems to have been self-inflicted and well-isolated from broader macroeconomic trends.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Complications are not the only harms of circumcision: the AAP and other parties debating the pros and cons of circumcision should conceptualize their analysis more broadly as risk of harm vs. prospect of benefit, thereby factoring in the value of the foreskin to the individual and the physical and ethical harms of removing it from a non-consenting child.

Johns Hopkins University

One of the only harms other than command prompt problems is to be careful who and where you prank.

WikiHow

Men, on the other hand, generally thought that the crime was minor and that releasing the names would only harm the families.

The New York Times

"Regrettably, the so-called 'agreement' reached today in the Senate Armed Services Committee will only harm the efforts of intelligence and law enforcement officials to bring to justice those who would harm Americans here and abroad," Mr. Leahy and Ms. Feinstein said.

The New York Times

In the statement it writes that the images of taxi drivers fighting in the streets will only harm the sector, and goes on to call for peaceful protest.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the only harm" to clearly and concisely emphasize the singular negative consequence, preventing confusion about other potential issues. It's often used to downplay situations or isolate concerns.

Common error

Avoid using "the only harm" when multiple negative consequences exist. Ensure that the harm you are highlighting is truly the singular and most significant issue; otherwise, it may undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the only harm" functions as a noun phrase serving to identify and isolate a specific negative consequence. It commonly operates as a subject complement or object of a preposition. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and readily usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the only harm" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to emphasize a singular negative consequence. Ludwig AI data indicates it's prevalent across News & Media and academic contexts, reflecting its neutrality. The phrase is best used when there truly is only one significant negative outcome to highlight. While alternatives like "the sole damage" or "the exclusive detriment" exist for more formal tones, "the only harm" strikes a balance of clarity and accessibility. Remember to avoid overstating situations by using this phrase when multiple harms exist, which could undermine credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the sole damage

Focuses on physical or quantifiable damage as the singular negative outcome.

the exclusive detriment

Emphasizes that the harm is not only singular but also uniquely specific to the situation.

the only negative impact

Highlights the singular adverse effect or consequence.

the single disadvantage

Indicates that only one drawback or unfavorable aspect exists.

the only downside

Suggests that while there may be complexities, there is only one unfavorable element.

the only risk

Emphasizes that danger is confined to a single potential hazard.

the only pitfall

Highlights a single, often hidden or unexpected danger.

the only drawback

Similar to 'downside', but can suggest a more inherent limitation.

the only casualty

Implies there was only a single loss or victim, often in a broader context of events.

the isolated harm

Indicates that the harm is contained and not part of a wider pattern.

FAQs

How can I use "the only harm" in a sentence?

Use "the only harm" to emphasize the single negative consequence of a situation. For example, "Despite the project's setbacks, "the only harm" was a slight delay in the timeline."

What's a more formal way to say "the only harm"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "the sole detriment" or "the exclusive disadvantage". These alternatives add a level of sophistication and precision.

Is "the only harm" always an appropriate phrase to use?

While grammatically correct, ensure that using "the only harm" accurately reflects the situation. If there are multiple negative consequences, using this phrase may be misleading and diminish the significance of other issues. Be careful to only use "the only harm" when there is truly only one.

What's the difference between "the only harm" and "the main harm"?

"The only harm" implies there is literally one negative consequence, while "the main harm" suggests there are other harms, but one is more significant than the others. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize exclusivity or relative importance.