a grave problem

USAGE SUMMARY

'a grave problem' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the severity of a problem. For example: "The lack of resources in the healthcare industry is a grave problem which needs to be addressed immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"We have a grave problem, I think".

The New York Times

A grave problem, it seemed, could no longer be denied.

The Guardian

If children are unraveling to this extent, it's a grave problem.

The New York Times

Toxicity from radiation therapy is a grave problem for cancer patients.

Stanford University

Federal education policy has a bounded impact; global warming remains a grave problem.

The Washington Post

Alcohol later became a grave problem, however, and John eventually quit drinking altogether.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

A graver problem is fiscal.

The Economist

Beyond his blunders, Bloomberg has also had to struggle with a graver problem.

The New Yorker

A graver problem is that "I, Roger Williams" feels less like a novel than a series of tableaus.

The New York Times - Books

Yet a graver problem may be lurking behind the headlines — namely, that sustained, meteoric growth in emerging economies may no longer be possible.

The New York Times

On top of all this, the biological theory of plausibility also suffers from a graver problem: its predictive powers are faulty.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a grave problem" to emphasize the serious and concerning nature of an issue. Reserve it for situations that have significant potential negative consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "a grave problem" for minor issues. Save it for situations where the consequences are truly serious, or its impact will be diluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a grave problem" functions as a noun phrase, with "grave" acting as an adjective modifying the noun "problem". It emphasizes the significant and concerning nature of the problem being described. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

25%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a grave problem" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a serious issue, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is most frequently used in news and media, science, and academic contexts to emphasize the severity and potential negative consequences of a situation. While alternatives like "a serious issue" or "a critical challenge" exist, "a grave problem" carries a stronger sense of urgency and concern. When using this phrase, reserve it for situations where the consequences are truly significant to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a serious issue

Replaces "problem" with "issue" and "grave" with "serious", softening the tone slightly.

a critical challenge

Substitutes "problem" with "challenge" and "grave" with "critical", framing it as something to overcome.

a significant concern

Replaces "problem" with "concern" and "grave" with "significant", highlighting the worrying aspect.

a pressing matter

Changes the noun to "matter" and the adjective to "pressing", indicating urgency.

a dire situation

Replaces both words to convey a sense of extreme urgency and negative consequences.

a major crisis

Emphasizes the scale and severity of the problem by using "crisis".

a thorny predicament

Uses more figurative language to describe a difficult and complex problem.

a difficult dilemma

Highlights the difficult choice or situation presented by the problem.

a worrisome development

Focuses on the unfolding nature of the problem and its potential negative impact.

an alarming trend

Emphasizes that the problem is part of a pattern that is cause for concern.

FAQs

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

Use "a grave problem" to describe situations with significant negative consequences. For example, "Climate change is "a grave problem" that requires immediate action".

What are some alternatives to "a grave problem"?

Alternatives include "a serious issue", "a critical challenge", or "a significant concern", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a grave problem"?

Yes, "a grave problem" is a grammatically correct and widely accepted phrase used to describe a serious or significant issue.

What distinguishes "a grave problem" from "a serious problem"?

"A grave problem" suggests a higher degree of severity and potential negative impact compared to "a serious problem". "Grave" emphasizes the weighty and concerning nature of the situation.