a brutal thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a brutal thing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action, event, or situation that is harsh, cruel, or severe in nature. Example: "The decision to abandon the project was a brutal thing to do, especially after all the hard work the team had put in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"It's a brutal thing".

The New York Times

And it is a brutal thing, too.

The Guardian - Arts

"This was a brutal thing these people went through," Mr. Samton said.

The New York Times

It's shocking how the Capital people could do such a brutal thing to people.

The Guardian - Books

On the day, a reshuffle is a brutal thing that can seem to translate into strength.

The Guardian - Opinion

Propinquity, propinquity #leveson May 23 , 201212.38pm BST Marr says of media coverage: It is a brutal thing when a minister is being assailed by the pack.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Cached search results are a brutal, brutal thing.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's a very brutal thing for children to hear and they were very sad.

The Guardian

More recently, ParaNorman for my money the best animated movie of recent memory dealt with legitimately one of the ugliest events in American history, the Salem Witch Trials, as a real, brutal thing that involved the murder of small children.

Vice

More recently, ParaNorman – for my money the best animated movie of recent memory – dealt with legitimately one of the ugliest events in American history, the Salem Witch Trials, as a real, brutal thing that involved the murder of small children.

Vice

But it is also an exquisite and brutal thing taken entirely on its own terms.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a brutal thing", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being described and why it warrants such a strong adjective. It is important to provide enough context to justify the severity implied by the term.

Common error

Avoid using "a brutal thing" to describe situations that are merely difficult or challenging. Overusing the phrase can dilute its impact and make your writing seem melodramatic. Reserve it for truly severe or harsh circumstances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a brutal thing" functions as a noun phrase where "brutal" modifies the noun "thing". Ludwig indicates the phrase is grammatically sound, commonly used to describe harsh realities or experiences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a brutal thing" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, primarily found in News & Media contexts to convey strong negative evaluations. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity. While relatively uncommon, it effectively communicates that an event, action, or situation is extremely harsh, cruel, or severe. Consider context carefully, opting for alternatives like "a cruel matter" or "a harsh reality" in more formal settings, and avoid overuse in mild situations to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a cruel matter

Replaces 'brutal' with 'cruel' and 'thing' with 'matter', softening the tone slightly while retaining the negative connotation.

a harsh reality

Substitutes the emotional judgment with a description of inevitability, focusing on the acceptance of something unpleasant.

a severe experience

Changes the noun to 'experience' and the adjective to 'severe', emphasizing the impact of the event.

a grim situation

Replaces 'brutal' with 'grim' and 'thing' with 'situation', highlighting the bleak and depressing nature of the circumstances.

a painful episode

Substitutes 'brutal' with 'painful' and 'thing' with 'episode', emphasizing the emotional distress caused.

a vicious act

Replaces 'brutal' with 'vicious' and 'thing' with 'act', focusing on the deliberate cruelty involved.

a savage ordeal

Changes the adjective to 'savage' and the noun to 'ordeal', emphasizing the intense and challenging nature of the experience.

a callous deed

Replaces 'brutal' with 'callous' and 'thing' with 'deed', highlighting the lack of empathy or concern.

an atrocious affair

Substitutes 'brutal' with 'atrocious' and 'thing' with 'affair', emphasizing the shocking and wicked nature of the event.

a merciless event

Changes the adjective to 'merciless' and the noun to 'event', emphasizing the lack of compassion or pity involved.

FAQs

How can I use "a brutal thing" in a sentence?

You can use "a brutal thing" to describe an event, action, or situation that is extremely harsh, cruel, or severe. For example, "The sudden layoffs were "a brutal thing" for the employees."

What can I say instead of "a brutal thing"?

You can use alternatives such as "a cruel matter", "a harsh reality", or "a severe experience" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a brutal thing" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a brutal thing" carries a strong emotional charge. In formal writing, consider using more neutral alternatives such as "a difficult situation" or "a harsh reality" to maintain a more objective tone.

What's the difference between "a brutal thing" and "a difficult thing"?

"A brutal thing" implies extreme harshness and cruelty, while "a difficult thing" simply suggests a challenge or hardship. The former carries a much stronger negative connotation.