a gross underestimation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a gross underestimation' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to emphasize that you have underestimated the amount or extent of something by a lot. For example, "That turned out to be a gross underestimation of the cost of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Yet, it is a gross underestimation to call Vapur a mere mode of transport.

The Guardian

According to the 2011 census, 54,416 people are homeless in Mumbai, although housing rights activists say that this is a gross underestimation.

The Guardian

"I found a piece of paper somewhere where I'd tried to imagine how much each section would be, how many pages, and it was such a gross underestimation," he says.

The Guardian - Books

Those officials declined to estimate the cost because they did not want state and federal officials who are providing aid to hold them to an amount that could end up being a gross underestimation.

The New York Times

With an estimated 4.5 million women in the UK experiencing some form of domestic abuse since the age of 16, according to latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (with even that figure described by many as a "gross underestimation"), it is a pervasive, pressing and, for many, daily problem.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

However, the authors argue that the 2 % share might be a gross underestimation of the real figure due to difficulties of colleting this information [22].

European Transport Research Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

That's a gross underestimate.

Forbes

From such studies, a multitude of proteins involved in mtDNA repair have been identified [15], underlining our gross underestimation of the mtDNA repair capacity in previous years.

Biochimie

The method is capable of discriminating between brittle and ductile modes of failure, thus eliminating the gross underestimation of capacity often observed in applying the truss model to brittle corbels.

Engineering Structures

The gross underestimation of Fighter Command's strength issued to Luftwaffe units meant the British reaction was much stronger than expected.

Wikipedia

For A/H1N1 (2009), the occurrence of asymptomatic infections or clinical cases for which no medical care is sought can lead to gross underestimation of the true incidence of infection [1], [2] and overestimation of severity [3], when using clinical surveillance data.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a gross underestimation" to introduce surprising facts and to highlight the fact that there were people or entities that completely failed at making realistic projections

Common error

Avoid confusing "gross", meaning total or blatant, with "net", which refers to the remaining amount after deductions. "A net underestimation" would imply an underestimation after accounting for some reductions, which is likely not the intended meaning when using "a gross underestimation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a gross underestimation" functions as a noun phrase. Ludwig AI examples show it typically serves as a subject complement or an appositive, emphasizing the extent to which something was underestimated in various contexts, such as costs, impacts, or quantities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

42%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a gross underestimation" is a phrase used to emphasize that something has been significantly underestimated. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and commonly used in both news and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the context clearly defines what is being underestimated. Consider using synonyms like "a severe miscalculation" or "a vast underestimate" for variation. Be mindful of the difference between "gross" and "net" to avoid confusion. By understanding its usage and nuances, you can effectively incorporate "a gross underestimation" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a vast underestimate

Replaces "gross" with "vast" and "underestimation" with "underestimate" for slight emphasis change.

a glaring underestimation

Replaces gross for glaring, changing intensity

a huge underestimation

Replaces gross for huge, changing intensity

a severe miscalculation

Replaces "underestimation" with "miscalculation", suggesting an error in calculation rather than a lack of appreciation.

a significant undervaluation

Substitutes "underestimation" with "undervaluation", focusing on the idea of assigning too little value to something.

a major misjudgment

Changes to "misjudgment", highlighting the error in judgment more broadly.

a considerable underappraisal

Uses "underappraisal" instead of "underestimation", implying a formal or expert assessment that falls short.

a wild miscalculation

Highlights the inaccuracy of the estimation

a massive understatement

Replaces underestimation, indicating that the reality is far more intense.

a complete misreading

Suggests the situation was interpreted incorrectly.

FAQs

How can I use "a gross underestimation" in a sentence?

You can use "a gross underestimation" to emphasize that something was significantly underestimated. For example, "The initial cost estimate proved to be "a gross underestimation" of the actual expenses."

What's the difference between "a gross underestimation" and "a slight underestimation"?

"A gross underestimation" implies a large, noticeable error in estimation, while "a slight underestimation" suggests a small, relatively insignificant error.

Are there synonyms for "a gross underestimation" that I can use?

Yes, you can use phrases like "a severe miscalculation", "a significant undervaluation", or "a vast underestimate" to convey a similar meaning.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "a gross underestimation"?

It's appropriate to use "a gross underestimation" in situations where you want to highlight that an initial estimate was far from the actual value or impact, often in formal reports, news articles, or academic discussions.