Damage-Damages | Commonly Confused Words
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Damage vs. Damages

Damage

/ˈdæmɪdʒ/
Harm or injury that makes something less valuable or useful

Examples:

This will reduce possible freight damage.Fires bloomed from damaged stores.'The captain had sent me to check the damage again.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Damages

Money awarded in compensation for loss or injury.

Examples:

The storm wreaked damages across the coastal area.She sought damages for the breach of contract.The court awarded him damages for the injury sustained.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Damage is used when referring to the actual harm or injury to something.
  • Damages is a term used in legal contexts, referring to the sum of money paid as compensation for harm or injury.
  • Think of damage as the physical harm itself, whereas damages is the compensation received in response to that harm.
  • Damage doesnt have a plural form when youre talking about destruction or harm, unlike damages.
  • In a sentence like The storm caused a lot of damage, changing damage to damages alters the meaning entirely.
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