Common Mistakes : Damage

Damage – Noun

BAD: The fire caused a lot of damages

GOOD: The fire caused a lot of damage

BAD: The car crashed into a tree and suffered a severe damage

GOOD: The car crashed into a tree and suffered severe damage

In its usual meaning, damage is an uncountable noun: ‘The insurance company will pay for any damage.’ ‘The ceiling had suffered a great deal of damage

damages (plural noun) = a sum of money that someone is awarded in a court of law: ‘She was awarded $3000 in damages.’ ‘She claimed damages of £۲۰۰۰ for wrongful dismissal

BAD: The floods made a lot of damage

GOOD: The floods did/caused a lot of damage

BAD: Most of the damage has been produced by acid rain

GOOD: Most of the damage has been caused by acid rain

do/cause damage (NOT make or produce ): ‘According to local farmers, the rabbits do a lot of damage to the crops.’ ‘It’s the gas from fridges that causes most of the damage