undue harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undue harm" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal or ethical contexts to refer to harm that is excessive or unwarranted in a given situation. Example: "The proposed policy could cause undue harm to vulnerable populations if not carefully implemented."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Women deserve a test that is effective and accurate and that doesn't cause undue harm.

The New York Times

Allowing suits without clear damages, however, also invites the infliction of serious and undue harm.

The New York Times

That would have to be done carefully to avoid undue harm.

The New York Times

The list of behaviors that cause undue harm to others is long.

The New York Times

On the whole it worked, and without undue harm to civil liberties.

The Guardian - Opinion

The purpose of this study was to determine if weekly corticosteroids improve neonatal outcome without undue harm.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Its developers know how frustrated people can get when a machine doesn't perform as expected, so what better way to prevent undue robot harm by making it look as innocent as possible?

TechCrunch

Contributory negligence is conduct which involves an undue risk of harm to the actor himself.

Harvard University

Negligence as it is commonly understood is conduct which creates an undue risk of harm to others.

Harvard University

Local anti-natalism is also supported by the judgment that wrongful birth, birth which wrongfully imposes undue risk and harm on a resulting child, is possible (Shiffrin 1999).

SEP

Oftentimes this is proof of innovation, but sometimes firms use intellectual property rights and the idiosyncrasies of the patent system to gain undue advantages, unfairly harm competitors, and limit economic growth.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When assessing potential consequences, carefully consider whether the harm caused is proportionate to the benefits gained. If the harm is "undue", explore alternative approaches.

Common error

Avoid confusing "undue harm" with harm that is "due" or expected. "Undue" implies excessiveness or inappropriateness, not inevitability. Double-check your word choice to ensure the intended meaning is clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undue harm" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "undue" modifies the noun "harm". As noted by Ludwig AI, it is typically used in legal or ethical contexts. Examples from Ludwig show it describing the consequences of actions or policies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undue harm" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression, particularly relevant in legal, ethical, and risk-assessment contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it emphasizes that the harm is not only present but also excessive or unjustified. When writing, ensure you're not simply referring to expected or "due" harm, but rather a disproportionate negative impact. Consider alternatives like "unjustified harm" or "excessive harm" to refine your meaning. The frequency with which "undue harm" appears in respected news sources and academic papers underscores its importance in formal discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unjustified harm

Emphasizes the lack of justification for the harm caused.

excessive harm

Highlights that the level of harm is beyond what is reasonable or acceptable.

unnecessary harm

Focuses on the avoidability of the harm, indicating it could have been prevented.

unwarranted harm

Similar to "unjustified harm", stressing that the harm is not deserved or called for.

disproportionate harm

Indicates the harm is too great relative to the situation or action that caused it.

unreasonable harm

Highlights that the harm is outside the bounds of what is considered fair or sensible.

unfair harm

Focuses on the inequitable nature of the harm inflicted.

unconscionable harm

Emphasizes that the harm is shockingly unfair or unjust.

wrongful harm

Focuses on the illegality or immorality of the harm.

undue detriment

Shifts the focus to the disadvantage or loss caused, rather than the physical or emotional harm.

FAQs

What does "undue harm" mean?

"Undue harm" refers to harm that is excessive, unwarranted, or disproportionate in a particular situation. It suggests that the harm goes beyond what is reasonable or justifiable.

What are some alternatives to saying "undue harm"?

You can use alternatives like "unjustified harm", "excessive harm", or "unnecessary harm" depending on the specific context.

How is "undue harm" different from "harm"?

While "harm" simply indicates damage or injury, "undue harm" specifies that the harm is excessive, inappropriate, or not properly justified. It implies a higher level of concern or severity.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "undue harm"?

The phrase "undue harm" is appropriate in contexts where you want to emphasize that the harm caused is not only present but also disproportionate or unjustified. This is common in legal, ethical, and risk assessment discussions.