a serious pledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a serious pledge" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a commitment or promise that is significant or important in nature. Example: "The organization made a serious pledge to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% over the next decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"People need to know that this is a serious pledge that they can bank," he told ITV News.

The Guardian

For all the lols it might generate, Harman is right to defend the colour of the bus, because to make a serious pledge to address women's issues, you have to be conspicuous.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The United Nations tried to make this year's climate meeting a summit focused on finance, but the Green Climate Fund, which is supposed to provide $100 billion every year by 2020 for adaptation and mitigation efforts, remains empty, and there's no sign that rich countries will come to the table in Warsaw with any serious pledges.

Huffington Post

Above all, Hamas will retain its power until there is a peace process which offers a serious international pledge that one day the occupation will end.Hamas is confident that such international rescue will not come.

The Economist

Six years ago, when George W. Bush was running for President, he called global warming a serious problem, and pledged, if elected, to regulate CO? emissions.

The New Yorker

But Robert Brulle, who teaches sociology and environmental science at Philadelphia's Drexel University, called Faison's pledge "a serious scale-up of the amount of money being spent here".

Vice

The most successful involve water thus, the flexible Australian water market that helped mitigate the effects of a serious drought; or Coca Cola's pledge to use water so efficiently that, by 2020, the company will supply as much to cities and the environment as it consumes.

The Economist

ReprintsThis secret pledge is a serious breach of the norms governing international aviation deals especially the "use it or lose it" principle according to which unused take-off or landing slots should be redistributed to the airlines that are next in the queue.

The Economist

A few of her early verses appeared in her university magazine in Bristol, but Clapp was surprised to find written evidence of her friend's youthful pledge to become a serious poet who would bring imaginative freedom to verse.

The Guardian - Books

Between 1990 and 2010, their number fell by half as a share of the total population in developing countries, from 43% to 21%—a reduction of almost 1 billion people.Now the world has a serious chance to redeem Truman's pledge to lift the least fortunate.

The Economist

If you're ready to pledge yourself to a serious practice, consider finding a personal teacher.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a serious pledge" when you want to emphasize the importance and sincerity of a commitment. Ensure the context reflects a significant undertaking.

Common error

Avoid using "a serious pledge" for trivial matters. This phrase is best reserved for commitments with significant consequences or impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a serious pledge" functions as a noun phrase, where 'serious' modifies the noun 'pledge'. The word serious is an adjective that qualifies the nature of the pledge, emphasizing its importance and weight. This construction is commonly used to highlight significant commitments, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a serious pledge" is a grammatically correct phrase used to underscore the weight and importance of a commitment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. The phrase commonly appears in news and media, as well as in formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context reflects the gravity of the commitment being made. Alternative phrases such as ""a solemn promise"" or ""a firm commitment"" can be used to convey similar meanings, depending on the specific nuance you want to emphasize.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a solemn promise

Emphasizes the formality and gravity of the promise.

a firm commitment

Highlights the strength and resoluteness of the commitment.

a sincere undertaking

Focuses on the genuineness and honesty of the undertaking.

a binding agreement

Stresses the legally or morally obligatory nature of the agreement.

a determined vow

Underscores the unwavering resolve behind the vow.

a guaranteed assurance

Highlights the certainty and reliability of the assurance.

a credible guarantee

Focuses on the believability and trustworthiness of the guarantee.

a substantial guarantee

Highlights the significance and importance of the guarantee.

an important promise

Emphasizes the importance of the promise.

a genuine agreement

Focuses on the authenticity and honesty of the agreement.

FAQs

What does "a serious pledge" mean?

The phrase "a serious pledge" refers to a formal or solemn promise indicating a firm commitment and sincerity. It implies that the promise should be taken seriously and carries significant weight.

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

You can use it to describe a strong commitment. For example: "The company made "a serious pledge" to reduce its carbon footprint."

What are some alternatives to "a serious pledge"?

Alternatives include "a solemn promise", "a firm commitment", or "a sincere undertaking". These alternatives emphasize the importance and sincerity of the commitment.

Is it appropriate to use "a serious pledge" in informal conversation?

While grammatically correct, "a serious pledge" is more suited for formal or professional contexts. In informal conversation, simpler phrases like "a real promise" or "a firm promise" might be more appropriate.