a grave emergency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a grave emergency" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a serious or critical situation that requires immediate attention or action. Example: "The fire department responded quickly to a grave emergency at the downtown high-rise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was not until later while watching the news that she knew it concerned a graver emergency.

The New York Times

Mauzy told the newspaper that Prince representatives called Kornfeld the night of 20 April because Prince "was dealing with a grave medical emergency".

The Guardian - Music

Stressing the retroactive effect of the state law, the Court held that it as invalid under the Contract Clause, since it was not precisely and reasonably designed to meet a grave temporary emergency in the interest of the general welfare.

Harvard University

Despite what was a grave medical emergency, Sierra Leone and the other affected countries largely continued to function as normal, and people went about their business as usual, with some adaptations for infection-prevention protocols".

The Guardian

During this period, Roosevelt functioned in a way similar to a dictator in the ancient sense of the Constitution of the Roman Republic: an official given total power for a brief time to handle a grave national emergency.

The New York Times - Books

Associates of Prince contacted Dr Howard Kornfeld, a California-based addiction specialist, on 20 April on behalf of the star who "was dealing with a grave medical emergency", said William Mauzy, Kornfeld's lawyer, on Wednesday.

The Guardian - Music

In the case of Syria, Mr. Daalder said, the administration could argue that the use of chemical weapons had created a grave humanitarian emergency and that without a forceful response there would be a danger that the Assad government might use it on a large scale once again.

The New York Times

"The argument in 1999 in the case of Kosovo was that there was a grave humanitarian emergency and the international community had the responsibility to act and, if necessary, to do so with force," said Ivo H. Daalder, a former United States ambassador to NATO who is now the president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

The New York Times

Mauzy said Prince's representatives told Howard Kornfeld that the singer was "dealing with a grave medical emergency".

Los Angeles Times

Absent some grave emergency, the Fourth Amendment has interposed a magistrate between the citizen and the police.

Cornell University

The font size of the headline prepares readers to expect anywhere from grave emergency to the quotidian status quo.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a grave emergency" to emphasize the seriousness and urgency of a situation requiring immediate attention. This phrase is suitable for formal writing and professional contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "a grave emergency" in situations that are merely inconvenient or mildly problematic. The word "grave" implies a serious threat or danger, so ensure the context warrants such a strong term.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a grave emergency" functions as a noun phrase, where "grave" modifies the noun "emergency", indicating the severity and urgency of the situation. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English, further supporting its grammatical validity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a grave emergency" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a serious and urgent situation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English writing. It is used across various contexts, including news, academia, and formal business, with a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure that the context warrants the serious connotation of "grave". Alternatives include "a critical emergency" or "a dire emergency", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a critical emergency

Replaces "grave" with "critical", emphasizing the decisive importance of the situation.

a dire emergency

Substitutes "grave" with "dire", highlighting the extremely serious and urgent nature of the emergency.

a serious emergency

Replaces "grave" with "serious", indicating a severe and concerning situation.

a critical situation

Replaces "emergency" with "situation", focusing on the overall state of crisis.

a major crisis

Replaces "emergency" with "crisis", emphasizing the turning point and potential for significant impact.

an urgent crisis

Focuses on the time-sensitive nature of a critical event requiring immediate action.

a life-threatening emergency

Highlights the potential for loss of life in the emergency.

a perilous situation

Replaces "emergency" with "situation", emphasizing the danger and risk involved.

a severe crisis

Uses "severe" instead of "grave", indicating the high intensity and impact of the crisis.

a pressing emergency

Highlights the need for immediate action in response to the urgent situation.

FAQs

How can I use "a grave emergency" in a sentence?

You can use "a grave emergency" to describe situations like, "The hospital declared "a grave emergency" due to the sudden influx of patients" or "The government is responding to "a grave emergency" caused by the earthquake".

What phrases are similar to "a grave emergency"?

Similar phrases include "a critical emergency", "a serious emergency", or "a dire emergency". These alternatives also convey a sense of urgency and severity.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a grave emergency"?

It is appropriate to use "a grave emergency" when describing a situation that poses a significant threat to life, health, safety, or property and requires immediate and decisive action. It's often used in formal reports, news articles, and official statements.

What's the difference between "a grave emergency" and "a crisis"?

While both terms indicate a difficult situation, "a grave emergency" specifically implies an immediate threat requiring urgent intervention. A "crisis" may refer to a broader, more protracted period of instability or difficulty, whereas "a grave emergency" emphasizes the urgency and severity of the immediate situation.