Alternative Ways to Say “At the Hands Of”: A Grammar Guide

ByAdam Smith

The phrase “at the hands of” is commonly used to indicate agency or causation, particularly when discussing negative actions or experiences inflicted upon someone or something. While effective, overuse can make writing sound repetitive. Mastering alternative expressions enhances your writing style, providing nuance and precision in conveying meaning. This article explores various ways to express the same concept as “at the hands of,” focusing on grammatical accuracy and contextual appropriateness. Understanding these alternatives will benefit students, writers, and anyone seeking to improve their English communication skills.


Definition of “At the Hands Of”

The phrase “at the hands of” is an idiomatic expression used to indicate the agent or cause of an action, typically a negative or harmful one. It signifies that someone or something has suffered or experienced something as a direct result of another’s actions. The phrase emphasizes the responsibility or culpability of the agent causing the harm.

Classification: Prepositional phrase.

Function: Adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate agency or cause.

Contexts: Commonly used in formal writing, news reports, historical accounts, and legal documents to describe situations where harm, injustice, or misfortune has occurred due to someone’s actions or negligence. It often carries a connotation of victimhood or suffering.


Structural Breakdown

The phrase “at the hands of” typically follows this structure:

[Subject] + [Verb] + at the hands of + [Agent/Cause]

Here’s a breakdown of each component:

  • Subject: The person or thing that experiences the action (usually negative).
  • Verb: The action or state of being experienced by the subject (e.g., suffered, died, was damaged).
  • at the hands of: The prepositional phrase indicating the cause or agent.
  • Agent/Cause: The person, group, or thing responsible for the action.

Example: The village suffered greatly at the hands of the invaders.

  • Subject: The village
  • Verb: Suffered
  • at the hands of: at the hands of
  • Agent/Cause: The invaders


Alternatives to “At the Hands Of”

While “at the hands of” is a useful phrase, varying your language can improve your writing. Here are several alternatives, each with slightly different connotations and appropriate contexts.

By

Using “by” is a simple and direct way to indicate agency. It is often more concise and can be used in a wider range of contexts than “at the hands of.”


Due To

“Due to” indicates that something is caused or produced by something else. It is suitable when explaining the reason for an event or situation.


Because Of

Similar to “due to,” “because of” explains the reason or cause of something. It is often used interchangeably with “due to,” but “because of” can sometimes sound less formal.


As a Result Of

This phrase emphasizes the consequence or outcome of a particular action or event. It is useful when highlighting the direct impact of something.

Through

“Through” can indicate agency or means, especially when describing how something was achieved or experienced. It often implies a process or intermediary.

Owing To

“Owing to” is a more formal alternative to “due to” or “because of.” It is used to indicate the reason or cause of something, often in formal writing.


Resulting From

This phrase emphasizes that something is a consequence or outcome of a previous action or event. It is similar to “as a result of” but often used to describe a continuous process.


Caused By

“Caused by” directly indicates that something is the reason or origin of something else. It is a straightforward and clear way to express causation.


Inflicted By

This phrase is specifically used when describing harm or suffering that has been deliberately caused by someone or something. It carries a strong connotation of intentionality.

Perpetrated By

“Perpetrated by” is used to describe a crime, fraud, or other wrongdoing that has been committed by someone. It is a formal and often legalistic term.


Examples

The following tables provide examples of how to use each alternative phrase in context. Each example demonstrates how the alternative can replace “at the hands of” while maintaining a similar meaning.

Examples Using “By”

The following table illustrates how “by” can be used to replace “at the hands of” in various sentences. This substitution often simplifies the sentence structure while maintaining the intended meaning.

Original Sentence (Using “At the Hands Of”) Revised Sentence (Using “By”)
The city was destroyed at the hands of the invading army. The city was destroyed by the invading army.
Many civilians suffered greatly at the hands of the oppressive regime. Many civilians suffered greatly by the oppressive regime.
The painting was damaged at the hands of a careless museum visitor. The painting was damaged by a careless museum visitor.
The company’s reputation was tarnished at the hands of a rogue employee. The company’s reputation was tarnished by a rogue employee.
The forest was decimated at the hands of illegal loggers. The forest was decimated by illegal loggers.
The treaty was violated at the hands of the neighboring nation. The treaty was violated by the neighboring nation.
The project was delayed at the hands of bureaucratic red tape. The project was delayed by bureaucratic red tape.
The athlete’s career was cut short at the hands of a devastating injury. The athlete’s career was cut short by a devastating injury.
The prisoner was tortured at the hands of cruel guards. The prisoner was tortured by cruel guards.
The ecosystem was disrupted at the hands of industrial pollution. The ecosystem was disrupted by industrial pollution.
The rebels were oppressed at the hands of the dictator. The rebels were oppressed by the dictator.
The artifact was broken at the hands of the clumsy tourist. The artifact was broken by the clumsy tourist.
The business failed at the hands of poor management. The business failed by poor management.
The agreement was terminated at the hands of the board of directors. The agreement was terminated by the board of directors.
The computer was infected at the hands of a malicious hacker. The computer was infected by a malicious hacker.
The evidence was contaminated at the hands of an inexperienced technician. The evidence was contaminated by an inexperienced technician.
The experiment was ruined at the hands of a careless lab assistant. The experiment was ruined by a careless lab assistant.
The scandal was leaked at the hands of an anonymous source. The scandal was leaked by an anonymous source.
The village was flooded at the hands of the dam operators. The village was flooded by the dam operators.
The data was compromised at the hands of a security breach. The data was compromised by a security breach.
The crops were destroyed at the hands of the locust swarm. The crops were destroyed by the locust swarm.
The concert was cancelled at the hands of the severe weather. The concert was cancelled by the severe weather.
The peace talks collapsed at the hands of the warring factions. The peace talks collapsed by the warring factions.


Examples Using “Due To”

This table demonstrates how “due to” replaces “at the hands of” to indicate causation. “Due to” is particularly useful when explaining why something happened.

Original Sentence (Using “At the Hands Of”) Revised Sentence (Using “Due To”)
The project failed at the hands of poor planning. The project failed due to poor planning.
The flight was delayed at the hands of bad weather. The flight was delayed due to bad weather.
The company’s profits declined at the hands of increased competition. The company’s profits declined due to increased competition.
The accident occurred at the hands of driver negligence. The accident occurred due to driver negligence.
The cancellation was at the hands of unforeseen circumstances. The cancellation was due to unforeseen circumstances.
The power outage was at the hands of a fallen tree. The power outage was due to a fallen tree.
The road closure was at the hands of construction work. The road closure was due to construction work.
The speaker’s cancellation was at the hands of a scheduling conflict. The speaker’s cancellation was due to a scheduling conflict.
The increase in prices was at the hands of inflation. The increase in prices was due to inflation.
The bridge collapsed at the hands of structural fatigue. The bridge collapsed due to structural fatigue.
The spread of the illness was at the hands of poor sanitation. The spread of the illness was due to poor sanitation.
The fire started at the hands of faulty wiring. The fire started due to faulty wiring.
The system failure was at the hands of a software bug. The system failure was due to a software bug.
The plant’s death was at the hands of lack of water. The plant’s death was due to lack of water.
The team’s loss was at the hands of multiple injuries. The team’s loss was due to multiple injuries.
The traffic jam was at the hands of an accident. The traffic jam was due to an accident.
The lecture’s postponement was at the hands of the professor’s illness. The lecture’s postponement was due to the professor’s illness.
The water damage was at the hands of a burst pipe. The water damage was due to a burst pipe.
The crop failure was at the hands of a drought. The crop failure was due to a drought.
The presentation’s delay was at the hands of technical difficulties. The presentation’s delay was due to technical difficulties.


Examples Using “Because Of”

This table illustrates the usage of “because of” as a substitute for “at the hands of.” Similar to “due to,” “because of” explains the reason behind an event, often in a slightly less formal tone.

Original Sentence (Using “At the Hands Of”) Revised Sentence (Using “Because Of”)
The game was cancelled at the hands of the rain. The game was cancelled because of the rain.
The store closed at the hands of low sales. The store closed because of low sales.
The concert was postponed at the hands of the lead singer’s illness. The concert was postponed because of the lead singer’s illness.
The bridge was closed at the hands of structural damage. The bridge was closed because of structural damage.
The company struggled at the hands of mismanagement. The company struggled because of mismanagement.
The event was successful at the hands of careful planning. The event was successful because of careful planning.
The team lost at the hands of poor teamwork. The team lost because of poor teamwork.
The project was delayed at the hands of funding issues. The project was delayed because of funding issues.
The plant died at the hands of neglect. The plant died because of neglect.
The car broke down at the hands of a faulty engine. The car broke down because of a faulty engine.
The food spoiled at the hands of improper storage. The food spoiled because of improper storage.
The meeting was unproductive at the hands of constant interruptions. The meeting was unproductive because of constant interruptions.
The website crashed at the hands of a server error. The website crashed because of a server error.
The artwork faded at the hands of sunlight. The artwork faded because of sunlight.
The relationship ended at the hands of constant arguments. The relationship ended because of constant arguments.
The performance suffered at the hands of stage fright. The performance suffered because of stage fright.
The experiment failed at the hands of an incorrect formula. The experiment failed because of an incorrect formula.
The election was won at the hands of a strong campaign. The election was won because of a strong campaign.
The book was successful at the hands of positive reviews. The book was successful because of positive reviews.
The athlete succeeded at the hands of hard work and dedication. The athlete succeeded because of hard work and dedication.


Examples Using “As a Result Of”

The table below demonstrates using “as a result of” to replace “at the hands of.” This phrase emphasizes the direct consequence of an action or event.

Original Sentence (Using “At the Hands Of”) Revised Sentence (Using “As a Result Of”)
The area was flooded at the hands of heavy rainfall. The area was flooded as a result of heavy rainfall.
The company went bankrupt at the hands of poor investments. The company went bankrupt as a result of poor investments.
The forest fire spread rapidly at the hands of strong winds. The forest fire spread rapidly as a result of strong winds.
The patient recovered slowly at the hands of complications. The patient recovered slowly as a result of complications.
The building was damaged at the hands of the earthquake. The building was damaged as a result of the earthquake.
The negotiations failed at the hands of irreconcilable differences. The negotiations failed as a result of irreconcilable differences.
The project was completed early at the hands of efficient teamwork. The project was completed early as a result of efficient teamwork.
The population suffered at the hands of the famine. The population suffered as a result of the famine.
The ecosystem collapsed at the hands of pollution. The ecosystem collapsed as a result of pollution.
The artist became famous at the hands of their unique style. The artist became famous as a result of their unique style.
The research was delayed at the hands of equipment failure. The research was delayed as a result of equipment failure.
The business thrived at the hands of innovative marketing. The business thrived as a result of innovative marketing.
The athlete excelled at the hands of rigorous training. The athlete excelled as a result of rigorous training.
The community prospered at the hands of sustainable practices. The community prospered as a result of sustainable practices.
The software crashed at the hands of a programming error. The software crashed as a result of a programming error.
The experiment succeeded at the hands of careful execution. The experiment succeeded as a result of careful execution.
The economy improved at the hands of government policies. The economy improved as a result of government policies.
The climate changed at the hands of greenhouse gas emissions. The climate changed as a result of greenhouse gas emissions.
The company innovated at the hands of creative employees. The company innovated as a result of creative employees.
The city grew at the hands of immigration. The city grew as a result of immigration.


Examples Using “Through”

This table shows how “through” can replace “at the hands of” to indicate a means or process. It’s particularly useful when describing how something was achieved or experienced.

Original Sentence (Using “At the Hands Of”) Revised Sentence (Using “Through”)
The information was leaked at the hands of a whistleblower. The information was leaked through a whistleblower.
The company grew at the hands of strategic partnerships. The company grew through strategic partnerships.
The project was completed at the hands of collaboration. The project was completed through collaboration.
The message was delivered at the hands of a messenger. The message was delivered through a messenger.
The problem was solved at the hands of teamwork. The problem was solved through teamwork.
The evidence was discovered at the hands of an investigation. The evidence was discovered through an investigation.
The agreement was reached at the hands of negotiation. The agreement was reached through negotiation.
The disease spread at the hands of contaminated water. The disease spread through contaminated water.
The technology advanced at the hands of research and development. The technology advanced through research and development.
The artwork was displayed at the hands of the museum. The artwork was displayed through the museum.
The loan was secured at the hands of a bank. The loan was secured through a bank.
The supplies were delivered at the hands of a logistics company. The supplies were delivered through a logistics company.
The funds were raised at the hands of a charity event. The funds were raised through a charity event.
The news was spread at the hands of social media. The news was spread through social media.
The connection was made at the hands of a mutual friend. The connection was made through a mutual friend.
The sale was completed at the hands of a real estate agent. The sale was completed through a real estate agent.
The application was processed at the hands of the government agency. The application was processed through the government agency.
The medication was administered at the hands of a doctor. The medication was administered through a doctor.
The training was provided at the hands of an expert. The training was provided through an expert.
The service was offered at the hands of a volunteer organization. The service was offered through a volunteer organization.


Examples Using “Owing To”

This table provides examples of “owing to” replacing “at the hands of.” “Owing to” is a more formal alternative to “due to” or “because of,” indicating the reason or cause of something.

Original Sentence (Using “At the Hands Of”) Revised Sentence (Using “Owing To”)
The meeting was postponed at the hands of unforeseen circumstances. The meeting was postponed owing to unforeseen circumstances.
The company’s success was at the hands of innovative strategies. The company’s success was owing to innovative strategies.
The project’s delay was at the hands of budget constraints. The project’s delay was owing to budget constraints.
The decline in sales was at the hands of market saturation. The decline in sales was owing to market saturation.
The research was hampered at the hands of a lack of funding. The research was hampered owing to a lack of funding.
The building’s collapse was at the hands of structural weaknesses. The building’s collapse was owing to structural weaknesses.
The team’s loss was at the hands of injuries to key players. The team’s loss was owing to injuries to key players.
The product’s recall was at the hands of safety concerns. The product’s recall was owing to safety concerns.
The flight’s cancellation was at the hands of inclement weather. The flight’s cancellation was owing to inclement weather.
The concert’s cancellation was at the hands of the artist’s illness. The concert’s cancellation was owing to the artist’s illness.
The factory’s closure was at the hands of economic downturn. The factory’s closure was owing to economic downturn.
The company’s restructuring was at the hands of financial difficulties. The company’s restructuring was owing to financial difficulties.
The museum’s closure was at the hands of funding shortages. The museum’s closure was owing to funding shortages.
The school’s closure was at the hands of declining enrollment. The school’s closure was owing to declining enrollment.
The library’s closure was at the hands of budget cuts. The library’s closure was owing to budget cuts.
The park’s deterioration was at the hands of neglect. The park’s deterioration was owing to neglect.
The program’s termination was at the hands of lack of interest. The program’s termination was owing to lack of interest.
The experiment’s failure was at the hands of contamination. The experiment’s failure was owing to contamination.
The treaty’s failure was at the hands of disagreements. The treaty’s failure was owing to disagreements.
The agreement’s collapse was at the hands of mistrust. The agreement’s collapse was owing to mistrust.


Examples Using “Resulting From”

The following table illustrates the use of “resulting from” as a substitute for “at the hands of.” This phrase emphasizes that something is a consequence or outcome of a previous action or event.

Original Sentence (Using “At the Hands Of”) Revised Sentence (Using “Resulting From”)
The damage was extensive at the hands of the storm. The damage was extensive resulting from the storm.
The disease spread rapidly at the hands of poor hygiene. The disease spread rapidly resulting from poor hygiene.
The company’s losses were significant at the hands of the recession. The company’s losses were significant resulting from the recession.
The forest was destroyed at the hands of the wildfire. The forest was destroyed resulting from the wildfire.
The crops failed at the hands of the drought. The crops failed resulting from the drought.
The building collapsed at the hands of the earthquake. The building collapsed resulting from the earthquake.
The pollution increased at the hands of industrial activity. The pollution increased resulting from industrial activity.
The erosion accelerated at the hands of deforestation. The erosion accelerated resulting from deforestation.
The unemployment rose at the hands of automation. The unemployment rose resulting from automation.
The conflict escalated at the hands of political tensions. The conflict escalated resulting from political tensions.
The innovation emerged at the hands of collaboration. The innovation emerged resulting from collaboration.
The progress was made at the hands of research efforts. The progress was made resulting from research efforts.
The growth occurred at the hands of strategic planning. The growth occurred resulting from strategic planning.
The improvement was seen at the hands of new policies. The improvement was seen resulting from new policies.
The efficiency was achieved at the hands of streamlined processes. The efficiency was achieved resulting from streamlined processes.
The success was attained at the hands of hard work. The success was attained resulting from hard work.
The development occurred at the hands of investments in technology. The development occurred resulting from investments in technology.
The decline happened at the hands of economic instability. The decline happened resulting from economic instability.
The increase occurred at the hands of population growth. The increase occurred resulting from population growth.
The change occurred at the hands of environmental factors. The change occurred resulting from environmental factors.


Examples Using “Caused By”

This table provides examples of how “caused by” can be used to replace “at the hands of” in various sentences. This substitution often simplifies the sentence structure while maintaining the intended meaning.

Original Sentence (Using “At the Hands Of”) Revised Sentence (Using “Caused By”)
The accident was at the hands of reckless driving. The accident was caused by reckless driving.
The fire was at the hands of arson. The fire was caused by arson.
The damage was at the hands of vandalism. The damage was caused by vandalism.
The illness was at the hands of a virus. The illness was caused by a virus.
The flood was at the hands of heavy rain. The flood was caused by heavy rain.
The power outage was at the hands of a storm. The power outage was caused by a storm.
The delay was at the hands of technical issues. The delay was caused by technical issues.
The failure was at the hands of negligence. The failure was caused by negligence.
The collapse was at the hands of an earthquake. The collapse was caused by an earthquake.
The explosion was at the hands of a bomb. The explosion was caused by a bomb.
The pollution was at the hands of industrial waste. The pollution was caused by industrial waste.
The deforestation was at the hands of logging. The deforestation was caused by logging.
The erosion was at the hands of overgrazing. The erosion was caused by overgrazing.
The extinction was at the hands of habitat loss. The extinction was caused by habitat loss.
The contamination was at the hands of chemical spills. The contamination was caused by chemical spills.
The unrest was at the hands of political corruption. The unrest was caused by political corruption.
The poverty was at the hands of economic inequality. The poverty was caused by economic inequality.
The crime was at the hands of social issues. The crime was caused by social issues.
The disease was at the hands of poor sanitation. The disease was caused by poor sanitation.


Examples Using “Inflicted By”

This table illustrates the use of “inflicted by” as a substitute for “at the hands of.” “Inflicted by” is specifically used when describing harm or suffering that has been deliberately caused by someone or something.

Original Sentence (Using “At the Hands Of”) Revised Sentence (Using “Inflicted By”)
The wounds were inflicted at the hands of the attacker. The wounds were inflicted by the attacker.
The suffering was inflicted at the hands of the torturer. The suffering was inflicted by the torturer.
The damage was inflicted at the hands of the vandals. The damage was inflicted by the vandals.
The pain was inflicted at the hands of the bully. The pain was inflicted by the bully.
The hardship was inflicted at the hands of the oppressor. The hardship was inflicted by the oppressor.
The cruelty was inflicted at the hands of the abuser. The cruelty was inflicted by the abuser.
The torment was inflicted at the hands of the sadist. The torment was inflicted by the sadist.
The injustice was inflicted at the hands of the corrupt official. The injustice was inflicted by the corrupt official.
The oppression was inflicted at the hands of the dictator. The oppression was inflicted by the dictator.
The violence was inflicted at the hands of the terrorist group. The violence was inflicted by the terrorist group.
The fear was inflicted at the hands of the stalker. The fear was inflicted by the stalker.
The misery was inflicted at the hands of the tyrant. The misery was inflicted by the tyrant.
The harm was inflicted at the hands of the negligent driver. The harm was inflicted by the negligent driver.


Examples Using “Perpetrated By”

This table shows how “perpetrated by” can replace “at the hands of” to describe crimes, fraud, or other wrongdoings. It’s a formal and often legalistic term.

Original Sentence (Using “At the Hands Of”) Revised Sentence (Using “Perpetrated By”)
The fraud was perpetrated at the hands of the con artist. The fraud was perpetrated by the con artist.
The crime was perpetrated at the hands of the criminal gang. The crime was perpetrated by the criminal gang.
The theft was perpetrated at the hands of the burglar. The theft was perpetrated by the burglar.
The forgery was perpetrated at the hands of the counterfeiter. The forgery was perpetrated by the counterfeiter.
The slander was perpetrated at the hands of the gossip columnist. The slander was perpetrated by the gossip columnist.
The assault was perpetrated at the hands of the assailant. The assault was perpetrated by the assailant.
The vandalism was perpetrated at the hands of the hooligans. The vandalism was perpetrated by the hooligans.
The hacking was perpetrated at the hands of the cybercriminals. The hacking was perpetrated by the cybercriminals.
The embezzlement was perpetrated at the hands of the accountant. The embezzlement was perpetrated by the accountant.
The discrimination was perpetrated at the hands of the employer. The discrimination was perpetrated by the employer.
The perjury was perpetrated at the hands of the witness. The perjury was perpetrated by the witness.
The bribery was perpetrated at the hands of the politician. The bribery was perpetrated by the politician.
The blackmail was perpetrated at the hands of the extortionist. The blackmail was perpetrated by the extortionist.
The espionage was perpetrated at the hands of the spy. The espionage was perpetrated by the spy.
The sabotage was perpetrated at the hands of the saboteur. The sabotage was perpetrated by the saboteur.
The terrorism was perpetrated at the hands of the extremists. The terrorism was perpetrated by the extremists.
The corruption was perpetrated at the hands of the government officials. The corruption was perpetrated by the government officials.
The conspiracy was perpetrated at the hands of the plotters. The conspiracy was perpetrated by the plotters.
The infringement was perpetrated at the hands of the copyright violators. The infringement was perpetrated by the copyright violators.


Usage Rules

When choosing an alternative to “at the hands of,” consider the following rules to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity:

  • “By” is generally followed by the agent performing the action.
  • “Due to” and “Because of” are followed by the cause or reason for the event.
  • “As a result of” is used to emphasize the outcome or consequence of an action.
  • “Through” indicates the means or process by which something is accomplished.
  • “Owing to” is a formal way of indicating the cause or reason.
  • “Resulting from” emphasizes that something is a consequence of a previous event.
  • “Caused by” directly states the origin or reason for an event.
  • “Inflicted by” is used for harm or suffering intentionally caused.
  • “Perpetrated by” is used for wrongdoings and crimes.


Common Mistakes

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using alternatives to “at the hands of”:

  • Misusing “due to” and “because of”: While often interchangeable, “due to” is more formal and typically follows a linking verb (e.g., “is due to”). “Because of” can be used more broadly.
  • Incorrect preposition usage: Ensure the correct preposition follows the alternative phrase (e.g., “as a result of,” not “as a result from“).
  • Awkward phrasing: Sometimes, a direct sentence structure is clearer and more effective than trying to force an alternative phrase.
  • Using “inflicted by” or “perpetrated by” in inappropriate contexts: These phrases should only be used when describing intentional harm or wrongdoing.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with the following exercises:

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate alternative to “at the hands of”:

  1. The delay was __________ bad weather.
  2. The project succeeded __________ hard work and dedication.
  3. The damage was __________ the flood.
  4. The information was leaked __________ a whistleblower.
  5. The crime was __________ the thief.
Answers
  1. due to / because of / owing to
  2. through / by
  3. caused by / as a result of / resulting from
  4. through
  5. perpetrated by


Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation

Rewrite the following sentences using an alternative to “at the hands of”:

  1. The company’s failure was at the hands of poor management.
  2. The artwork was damaged at the hands of a careless visitor.
  3. The disease spread at the hands of contaminated water.
  4. The treaty was violated at the hands of the neighboring nation.
  5. The prisoner was tortured at the hands of cruel guards.
Answers
  1. The company failed due to poor management.
  2. The artwork was damaged by a careless visitor.
  3. The disease spread through contaminated water.
  4. The treaty was violated by the neighboring nation.
  5. The prisoner was tortured by cruel guards.


Exercise 3: Error Correction

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences:

  1. The success was attained as a result from dedication.
  2. The accident was due by the driver’s negligence.
  3. The information was leaked because a whistleblower.
  4. The suffering was inflicted by accident.
  5. The crime was perpetrated by the natural disaster.
Answers
  1. The success was attained as a result of dedication.
  2. The accident was due to the driver’s negligence.
  3. The information was leaked by a whistleblower.
  4. The suffering was inflicted by the torturer. (Assuming intentional harm)
  5. The damage was caused by the natural disaster. (Perpetrated is for intentional acts)

Advanced Topics

For more advanced usage, consider exploring:

  • Nuances in meaning: Different alternatives carry slightly different connotations. Pay attention to these subtle differences to choose the most appropriate phrase for your intended meaning.
  • Formal vs. informal usage: Some alternatives (e.g., “owing to”) are more formal than others (e.g., “because of”).
  • Combining alternatives: In complex sentences, you can combine different alternatives to create a more varied and engaging text.


FAQ

When should I use “at the hands of”?

Use “at the hands of” when you want to emphasize the agency or responsibility of someone or something in causing harm, injustice, or misfortune. It is particularly appropriate in formal writing and when the agent’s actions are a direct cause of the suffering.

Is it always better to avoid using “at the hands of”?

No, not necessarily. The phrase is perfectly acceptable when it accurately conveys your intended meaning. However, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive, so it’s beneficial to have a variety of alternatives at your disposal.

Can I use “at the hands of” in positive contexts?

While possible, “at the hands of” is most commonly used in negative contexts to describe harm or suffering. Using it in a positive context might sound unusual or even ironic. It’s generally better to use alternatives like “through” or “by” in positive situations.


Conclusion

Mastering alternatives to “at the hands of” enhances your writing by providing nuance and precision. By understanding the subtle differences between phrases like “by,” “due to,” “because of,” and others, you can craft more compelling and effective sentences. Remember to consider the context and intended meaning when choosing the most appropriate alternative.


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