a clear abuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a clear abuse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is obviously misused or exploited in a way that is unjust or unethical. Example: "The committee found that there was a clear abuse of power in the decision-making process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

That was a clear abuse of discretion.

The New York Times

Opposition politicians said that this was a clear abuse of power.

Independent

Ms. Quinn should stop defending the department's deplorable practice of indiscriminate surveillance of Muslims, a clear abuse of power.

The New York Times

The local boards have been given broad discretion, which no court may overrule absent a clear abuse of discretion.

The New York Times

"Granting a backdoor amnesty to tens of thousands of illegal immigrants in the process of being deported is a clear abuse of the president's discretion".

The New York Times

Mr. Grassley said Mr. Obama's appointments were a clear abuse of executive authority, "part of a pattern of disregard for the constitutional system of checks and balances".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

This is a clear, clear abuse of process".

The Guardian

Responding to the assaults by motorists, he said: "An attack by an armed group or someone related to them that is directly targeting civilians is a very clear abuse".

Vice

In cases of clear abuse, defamation, or an overpowering government agency, Google does whip out its digital eraser.

TechCrunch

The message sent to the American public was clear: Abuse isn't fantastic, but it's not that big of a deal, either.

Huffington Post

So the message from CBS and Warner Brothers seems clear: abuse yourself and the women around you to your heart's content, but do not attack the golden goose.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a clear abuse", ensure the context provides specific details about what is being misused or exploited to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "a clear abuse of power" or "a clear abuse of trust".

Common error

Avoid using "a clear abuse" as a hyperbolic statement without providing concrete evidence or examples. Overusing the phrase without support weakens your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a clear abuse" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as the object or subject complement in a sentence. It identifies and labels a situation involving evident misuse or exploitation. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

14%

Science

9%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a clear abuse" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to denote evident misuse or exploitation. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. It appears frequently in news, formal documents, and legal contexts. When employing this phrase, specifying the subject of abuse enhances clarity and impact. Alternatives include "an obvious abuse" and "a blatant abuse". Ensure usage is supported by concrete evidence to avoid weakening your arguments. The phrase serves to express disapproval and highlight unethical behavior, calling for awareness and potential action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an obvious abuse

Replaces "clear" with "obvious", emphasizing the readily apparent nature of the misuse.

a blatant abuse

Substitutes "clear" with "blatant", highlighting the flagrant and unconcealed nature of the abuse.

an evident abuse

Replaces "clear" with "evident", stressing the easily perceived nature of the misuse.

a manifest abuse

Uses "manifest" instead of "clear", implying the abuse is plainly revealed or displayed.

a distinct abuse

Replaces "clear" with "distinct", indicating the abuse is sharply defined and easily recognizable.

a transparent abuse

Using transparent indicates that the abuse can be easily seen through

an unambiguous abuse

Unambiguous shows that the nature of the abuse has no possibility of being misunderstood.

a palpable abuse

Expresses the abuse as something almost tangible and easily perceptible.

a conspicuous abuse

Draws attention to the abuse as being very noticeable.

a flagrant abuse

Describes the abuse as being shockingly evident or obvious.

FAQs

How can I use "a clear abuse" in a sentence?

You can use "a clear abuse" to describe situations where there's an obvious misuse or exploitation of something, such as "a clear abuse of power", "a clear abuse of authority", or "a clear abuse of discretion".

What can I say instead of "a clear abuse"?

You can use alternatives like "an obvious abuse", "a blatant abuse", or "an evident abuse" depending on the specific context.

Is it always necessary to specify what is being abused when using "a clear abuse"?

While not always strictly necessary, specifying what is being abused (e.g., power, trust, discretion) provides clarity and strengthens the impact of your statement. Omitting the specific context can lead to ambiguity.

What's the difference between "a clear abuse" and "a suspected abuse"?

"A clear abuse" implies that the misuse or exploitation is evident and readily apparent. In contrast, "a suspected abuse" indicates that there is reason to believe abuse may be occurring, but it has not been definitively proven.