a serious indication of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a serious indication of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that suggests or points to a significant issue or condition. Example: "The recent increase in temperatures is a serious indication of climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Carsberg says the size of the deposit would be agreed by both parties at the outset, but would be "big enough to be a serious indication of intent".

The Guardian - Money

Passing a fleshy mass through your vagina is a serious indication of miscarriage.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

However, most people, at that time, who had any opinion about Obama's Washington Post interview, saw it as mere political maneuvering, not as any serious indication of Obama's actual intentions: to slash those programs.

Huffington Post

We need a regulator who will investigate when there is one serious indication of a problem, let alone several".

Independent

Watt writes: "It is the first serious indication of a recurrent theme of Gordon's premiership – everyone around him thought there was some big plan sitting in a bottom drawer somewhere just ready to be pulled out when the moment came.

The Guardian

This is a good indication of introversion.

WikiHow

And what is the timeframe Washington would accept within the framework of looking for a "political solution", especially as the war is intensifying and as there are no serious indications of any real change in the stances taken by Russia or Iran?

Huffington Post

And that, in turn, will provide serious indications of what Thomas can achieve in future.

Independent

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said the elections were marred by "frequent procedural violations and instances of apparent manipulations, including serious indications of ballot box stuffing".

The Guardian

Observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said the elections were marred by "frequent procedural violations and instances of apparent manipulations, including serious indications of ballot box stuffing".

The Guardian

"There are serious indications of retaliation from the country or countries that produced the information published by Mr Assange; retaliation that could endanger his safety, integrity and even his life," said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ricardo Patino.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a serious indication of", ensure the context clearly establishes what the indication is pointing towards. Clarity is key to conveying the gravity of the situation or issue.

Common error

Avoid using "a serious indication of" when a milder phrase would suffice. Overusing it can diminish its impact and create unnecessary alarm. Consider whether the evidence truly warrants such a strong expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a serious indication of" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or an appositive. It identifies or describes a preceding noun, highlighting the importance of a sign or signal. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates something points to a significant issue.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a serious indication of" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that suggests something points to a significant issue or condition. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its validity and provides real-world examples. While not overly common, the phrase is appropriate for formal and neutral contexts, especially in news, scientific and wiki domains. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly conveys the gravity of the situation and avoid overstating the significance if a milder expression would suffice. Alternatives such as "a strong sign of" or "a significant indicator of" can also be considered based on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a strong sign of

Replaces "indication" with "sign" and "serious" with "strong" to emphasize the importance of the indication.

a telling sign of

Uses "telling" instead of "serious" to suggest the indication reveals something significant.

a significant indicator of

Replaces "indication" with the synonym "indicator" and "serious" with "significant" to highlight the importance.

an important clue to

Shifts the focus to the role of the indication as a "clue", suggesting something needing further investigation.

a major signal of

Employs "signal" in place of "indication", conveying the idea of a clear communication or warning.

a revealing symptom of

Substitutes "indication" with "symptom", often used in medical or problem-solving contexts to point out something.

a key piece of evidence for

Changes the meaning slightly to emphasize a piece of "evidence" that supports a claim or hypothesis.

a harbinger of

Implies the indication is a "harbinger", suggesting it foreshadows something that is about to happen.

a manifestation of

Uses "manifestation" to suggest the indication is a visible expression or appearance of something.

an index of

Replaces "indication" with "index", implying that something serves as a benchmark or measure.

FAQs

How can I use "a serious indication of" in a sentence?

You can use "a serious indication of" to suggest that something points to a significant issue or condition. For example, "The increase in hospital admissions is a serious indication of a potential health crisis."

What are some alternatives to "a serious indication of"?

Alternatives include "a strong sign of", "a telling sign of", or "a significant indicator of", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a serious indication of" in formal writing?

Yes, "a serious indication of" is suitable for formal writing when you need to express that something strongly suggests a significant issue or problem.

What's the difference between "a serious indication of" and "a slight indication of"?

"A serious indication of" suggests a strong likelihood or evidence of something significant, whereas "a slight indication of" implies only a small or weak suggestion.