harm vs do harm to

Both 'harm' and 'do harm to' are correct phrases, but they are used in different contexts. 'Harm' is a noun or a verb that can stand alone, while 'do harm to' is a phrasal verb that requires an object. The choice between them depends on whether you want to use 'harm' as a standalone word or as part of a phrasal verb.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 1459 views

The word 'harm' can be used as a noun or a verb, and it is correct to use it on its own.

"harm"

You can use 'harm' as a noun to refer to physical or mental damage, or as a verb to mean causing damage or injury.

Examples:

The chemicals can cause harm to the environment.
He meant no harm by his words.

Show examples from the web [+]

There is no harm in dating around.
There's no harm in checking.
Running that story will harm the country.
The dog defended his master from harm.
There's no harm in going back and asking.
Why, Sir John, my face does you no harm.
There can't be any harm to it.
Didn't do Errol Flynn any harm.
It's about doing more harm than good.
With brawn like his, I pity those who wish harm upon Florence.
- Spending each day immersed in tragedy may be doing more harm than good.
I promise no harm will come to your family.
So there's no harm in the last.
Maybe this time I did more harm than good.
If you harm that baby, I swear...
I say no harm, I think no harm, but I wish everybody good.
I say no harm, I think no harm.
Gary would never harm your baby.
Please understand that I didn't mean any harm.
I would never intentionally harm a fellow firefighter.

Alternatives:

damage
injure
hurt
impair
endanger

'Do harm to' is a phrasal verb that requires an object and is used to indicate causing damage or injury to someone or something.

"do harm to"

Use 'do harm to' when you want to specify the recipient of the harm, indicating who or what is being affected by the action.

Examples:

The new policy could do harm to small businesses.
Smoking can do harm to your health.

Show examples from the web [+]

You are ill... you could do harm to yourself, to France.
Don Antonio, I'm sure you... ...You are incapable, powerless to do harm to someone like me!
There are people who want to do harm to you.
Warn them of the dangers so when he's finally caught, he can never do harm to anyone ever again.
It's the Colorado state institutional code for involuntarily confining someone who might do harm to themselves or to others.
I'll take care not to do harm to the president.
We knew that a man intentionally do harm to the building.
Do not do harm to Rose.
They do harm to their lives.
And so I transform that negative stimulus... into something that will not do harm to me.
So, let this serve as a warning for those wish to do harm to our nation.
Obviously he'd been in jail, a parish, or city holding tank, some place where they were afraid he'd do harm to himself.
Tobacco smoke is an environmental pollutant that contains over a hundred compounds that do harm to the health.
Her records indicate that she was violent... threatening to do harm to herself... and others.
How can you be sure what will do harm to another man?
A man, who has a small beard, said that if he told anyone, he would do harm to both him and his family.
Those who knowingly scheme to evade and avoid taxes do harm to society and should not expect leniency when they are caught, and we must have the tools to catch them.
Not only does that do harm to the living space we all share, but it also costs the state and municipalities a lot of money, and we need to be more vigorous in dealing with this.
- that would want to do harm to Jenna?
This unusual circumstance, almost implausible circumstance, of Stewart being hired to follow a man's wife because the husband is curious about where she is going and thinks that she might be about to do harm to herself.

Alternatives:

cause damage to
injure
hurt
impair
endanger

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harm vs do harm to

"harm"

"do harm to"

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