a scourge for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a scourge for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that causes great suffering or harm to a particular group or situation. Example: "The disease has become a scourge for the local population, leading to widespread fear and uncertainty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Black lung, a scourge for coal miners, stages a brutal comeback.

Yale University

Racist chants directed at black players continue to be a scourge for many European leagues.

The New York Times - Sports

Periods of high unemployment are a scourge for everybody, but minority groups and the less educated are hit particularly hard.

The New Yorker

At that first meeting, Putin was concerned to get his message out – that terrorism was as much a scourge for Russia as it was for Western countries.

Independent

The fees are a scourge for border-crossing Europeans and make up about 5 percent of a typical operator's annual revenue.

The New York Times - Tech

Though its effects are very costly to society and, to many, immoral, tobacco is mainly a scourge for smokers and those who live and work with them.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

It is a scourging for them, as surely as Jesus was scourged at the pillar.

Huffington Post

The group's ideology, spread widely through social media and slick propaganda videos, appears to have inspired a scourge of violence for more than a year: including the shooting in December in San Bernardino, Calif.; the mass killings last month at a gay nightclub in Orlando; and the deadly attack early this month at a cafe in Bangladesh.

The New York Times

Brewer, abolitionist, social reformer and English Member of Parliament Sir Thomas Buxton said, "Laziness grows on people; it begins in cobwebs and ends in iron chains". Poet and philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge had an even darker take on the avoidance of work: "The love of indolence is universal, or next to it". Indeed, laziness has been a scourge of humanity for millennia.

Forbes

Perhaps the most frightening part of the unveiling, however, is that Peterson -- long a scourge of progressives for having earned hundreds of millions in the hedge fund business while preaching financial sacrifice for others -- has prominent Democrats backing his latest campaign.

Huffington Post

Dr. Tyagi's agency has asked the city's wildlife agency for help, but wildlife officials claim that the monkeys — a scourge of the city for years as urbanization has encroached on their original habitat — are no longer wild and are thus not their responsibility.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a scourge for", ensure the subject experiencing the 'scourge' is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify 'a scourge for the economy' rather than simply 'a scourge'.

Common error

While "a scourge for" is acceptable, overuse can make writing sound melodramatic. Substitute with more neutral terms like "a challenge for" or "a problem for" when appropriate to maintain a balanced tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a scourge for" functions as a predicate nominative or complement, describing the subject as something that causes significant harm or suffering. It connects the subject to its attribute, highlighting its detrimental effect, as exemplified by the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a scourge for" is a phrase used to describe something that causes significant harm or suffering. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, predominantly in news and media, science, and formal business writing. While effective in conveying the severity of a situation, it's important to use it judiciously to avoid sounding melodramatic, and consider alternatives like "a disaster for" or "a bane for" when a less intense expression is more appropriate. Always ensure that the subject experiencing the 'scourge' is clearly defined for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a disaster for

Indicates a calamitous event with widespread negative consequences, emphasizing the event's destructiveness more directly.

a calamity for

Similar to 'disaster', highlighting the grave and unfortunate nature of the event or situation.

a plague on

Emphasizes a widespread and destructive affliction, often implying a sense of divine punishment or uncontrollable spread.

a bane for

Highlights something that persistently causes problems or unhappiness, suggesting a chronic and irritating issue.

a burden for

Suggests something that is heavy and difficult to bear, focusing on the oppressive aspect of the problem.

a blight on

Implies a destructive force that mars or spoils something, often used in relation to moral or aesthetic decline.

a curse for

Emphasizes a supernatural or malevolent force causing harm, suggesting a lack of control and a sense of doom.

a problem for

A more general term indicating something that causes difficulty or concern, less intense than "a scourge for".

a tragedy for

Emphasizes the sad and unfortunate nature of a situation, focusing on the emotional impact and loss.

a setback for

Indicates a hindrance or reversal in progress, less severe than "a scourge for" but still suggesting negative consequences.

FAQs

How can I use "a scourge for" in a sentence?

You can use "a scourge for" to describe something that causes significant harm or suffering to a particular group or entity. For example, "Corruption is "a scourge for" developing nations".

What can I say instead of "a scourge for"?

You can use alternatives like "a disaster for", "a bane for", or "a calamity for" depending on the context.

Is "a scourge for" formal or informal?

"A scourge for" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it carries a slightly stronger emotional weight, so consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

What is the difference between "a scourge for" and "a problem for"?

"A scourge for" implies a more severe and widespread negative impact than "a problem for". A scourge suggests something deeply damaging and difficult to eradicate, whereas a problem may be more manageable.