a serious drawback

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a serious drawback" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a significant disadvantage or negative aspect of something. Example: "While the new software has many features, a serious drawback is its high cost, which may deter potential users."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It could yet prove a serious drawback to his appointment.

The Guardian - Sport

The Evil Dead fails even to horrify – always a serious drawback in a horror movie.

The Guardian

That, in particular, was a serious drawback, said Dr. David Freedman, a statistician at the University of California.

The New York Times

But the AK-47 has a serious drawback: glint, which gave Mr Malalo an advantage in firefights.

The Economist

While The Heroic Life of George Gissing will delight his admirers, one must acknowledge a serious drawback: for a book this expensive it ought to have included photographs.

The Guardian - Books

The bass-baritone John Stephens was a bland Don Alfonso, a serious drawback, given that enigmatic character's centrality to the opera.

The New York Times - Arts

The limitation of this service to one vessel at a time, however, was a serious drawback in bad weather, when demands were heavy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The advantage of a fresh SDR issuance is that it immediately augments countries' foreign reserves without needing to be lent.However, this benefit comes with a serious drawback.

The Economist

That will become a serious drawback as video-on-demand quickly becomes a standard product, says Craig Moffett, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein in New York.

The Economist

EMI's weak presence in America, where it had an 11% market share at the end of October, compared with 17% for Warner Music, is also a serious drawback.

The Economist

However, a serious drawback is its unfairness.

Journal of Systems and Software

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a serious drawback", be specific about what the drawback is and its potential consequences to provide context and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a serious drawback" when a minor inconvenience would be more accurate. Overusing strong language can diminish its impact when a truly significant issue arises.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a serious drawback" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or object of a sentence. It identifies a significant disadvantage or negative aspect. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a serious drawback" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote a significant disadvantage. As verified by Ludwig, it is suitable for written English. Predominantly found in science and news media, its neutral to formal register makes it versatile across different professional and academic contexts. When using the phrase, clarity regarding the nature and implications of the drawback is paramount. While several alternatives exist, such as "a major disadvantage" or "a significant limitation", selecting the most fitting depends on the specific nuance you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major disadvantage

Replaces "drawback" with "disadvantage" and "serious" with "major", both implying a significant negative aspect.

a grave disadvantage

Substitutes "serious" with "grave", indicating a severe or critical disadvantage.

a significant limitation

Substitutes "drawback" with "limitation" and "serious" with "significant", conveying a similar sense of a notable restriction.

a substantial downside

Replaces "drawback" with "downside" and "serious" with "substantial", conveying a significant negative consequence.

a considerable impediment

Replaces "drawback" with "impediment" and "serious" with "considerable", indicating a substantial obstacle.

a weighty disadvantage

Replaces "serious" with "weighty", emphasizing the heaviness or significance of the disadvantage.

a notable weakness

Substitutes "drawback" with "weakness" and "serious" with "notable", suggesting a significant flaw or vulnerability.

a critical flaw

Replaces "drawback" with "flaw" and "serious" with "critical", emphasizing a severe defect or fault.

a key obstacle

Replaces "drawback" with "obstacle" and "serious" with "key", highlighting a significant barrier or hurdle.

a telling defect

Substitutes "drawback" with "defect" and "serious" with "telling", suggesting a significant imperfection that reveals a problem.

FAQs

How can I use "a serious drawback" in a sentence?

You can use "a serious drawback" to point out a significant disadvantage or negative aspect of something. For example: "The high cost is a serious drawback."

What are some alternatives to saying "a serious drawback"?

Alternatives include "a major disadvantage", "a significant limitation", or "a critical flaw", depending on the specific context.

Is it always appropriate to use "a serious drawback"?

No, use "a serious drawback" when the disadvantage is genuinely significant. For minor issues, consider using milder phrases such as "a minor inconvenience" or "a slight hiccup".

What's the difference between "a serious drawback" and "a minor inconvenience"?

"A serious drawback" indicates a significant problem that could have substantial negative effects, while "a minor inconvenience" refers to a small, easily managed issue.