English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
DAMAGE or DAMAGES?
You have to pay for the ~damages~ you caused (nonstandard).
You have to pay for the *damage* you caused (standard).
Damage is an uncountable noun and it consists of the unpleasant effects that something has on a person, situation, or type of activity.
The politician was awarded £50,000 in ~return~ over false allegations made by the newspaper (nonstandard).
The politician was awarded £50,000 in *damages* over false allegations made by the newspaper (standard).
Damages is a plural noun and it means money that is paid to someone by a person or organisation who has been responsible for causing them some injury or loss.
GAB
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