a sensitive undertaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sensitive undertaking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a task or project that requires careful consideration or handling due to its delicate nature. Example: "The negotiations were a sensitive undertaking, requiring the utmost discretion from all parties involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The authors concluded that screening a large sample to identify children and youths with psychopathic traits has some important advantages but, on the other hand, it is a sensitive undertaking because of the label 'psychopath' can have negative consequences for the subjects.

Child Psychiatry and Human Development

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Reform was overdue, but it was a highly sensitive undertaking that evoked strenuous response from the services.

Huffington Post

"It is a delicate and sensitive undertaking," Mr. Law said.

The New York Times

The performance was a risky and sensitive undertaking, with the band themselves frequently in tears on stage, and psychologists standing by to attend to audience members if necessary.

The Guardian

This article illustrates the use of researcher introspection prior to undertaking a sensitive research project.

Journal of Business Research

The closed session undertook a sensitive, serious and even personal tone.

The New York Times - Sports

In that document, a six-page letter, city investigators said they found it "shocking and disturbing" that state officials had — despite city warnings — knowingly allowed people associated with Safeway to undertake such a sensitive job.

The New York Times

Informed consent was sought from the participants, assuring of confidentiality and anonymity of the information collected, and the research was undertaken in a sensitive manner, with data held securely.

Health Policy and Planning

Information bias was also unlikely as outcome definition was undertaken by experienced physiotherapists, using a sensitive screening tool [13], and a robust questionnaire and examination protocol.

Plosone

It's a sensitive subject.

The New Yorker

"He's a sensitive guy".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a sensitive undertaking", ensure the context clearly indicates why the undertaking requires special care or discretion. For example, specify the stakeholders or issues that make it sensitive.

Common error

Avoid using "a sensitive undertaking" for routine tasks. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact when describing genuinely delicate situations. Save it for scenarios with significant potential for negative consequences or requiring exceptional tact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sensitive undertaking" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or object. It describes an action or task that requires careful and tactful handling. As Ludwig AI explains, this description is necessary due to the potentially delicate or controversial nature of the undertaking. For instance, screening children for psychopathic traits is described as "a sensitive undertaking" due to the potential negative consequences of the label.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sensitive undertaking" is a phrase used to describe a task or project that demands careful handling due to its delicate nature. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, primarily appearing in news, media and scientific articles. While not exceptionally common, it effectively signals the need for caution and discretion. When employing this phrase, consider whether it accurately reflects the situation's potential for causing offense or harm. For alternative phrasings, consider options such as "a delicate project" or "a challenging endeavor" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a delicate project

Replaces "undertaking" with "project", focusing on the delicate nature of the task.

a careful operation

Emphasizes the need for precision by using "careful" and replaces "undertaking" with "operation".

a challenging endeavor

Substitutes "sensitive" with "challenging" and "undertaking" with "endeavor", highlighting the difficulty involved.

a precarious venture

Uses "precarious" to emphasize the risk involved and "venture" as a synonym for "undertaking".

a critical mission

Replaces "sensitive" with "critical", stressing the importance of the task and "undertaking" with "mission".

a complex assignment

Focuses on the intricacy of the task by using "complex" and replaces "undertaking" with "assignment".

a tricky operation

Emphasizes the need for skillful handling using "tricky" and replaces "undertaking" with "operation".

a difficult task

Highlights the difficulty using "difficult" and replaces "undertaking" with "task".

a high-stakes activity

Stresses the potential consequences using "high-stakes" and replaces "undertaking" with "activity".

a painstaking effort

Highlights the thoroughness required using "painstaking" and replaces "undertaking" with "effort".

FAQs

How can I use "a sensitive undertaking" in a sentence?

Use "a sensitive undertaking" to describe a task or project that requires careful handling due to its delicate nature or potential for causing offense or harm. For example: "Negotiating the treaty was "a sensitive undertaking", requiring diplomacy and understanding from both sides."

What are some alternatives to "a sensitive undertaking"?

You can use alternatives such as "a delicate project", "a challenging endeavor", or "a precarious venture" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What makes something "a sensitive undertaking"?

An undertaking is considered "sensitive" when it involves issues that are personal, confidential, potentially controversial, or have a high risk of causing offense or negative repercussions if mishandled.

Is it always appropriate to describe something as "a sensitive undertaking"?

No, it's not always appropriate. The term should be reserved for situations where there is a genuine need for caution, discretion, and careful consideration due to the nature of the task or the potential impact on individuals or groups involved. Using it too liberally can diminish its impact.