a severe background

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a severe background" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a challenging or difficult personal history or context that someone has experienced. Example: "Despite coming from a severe background, she managed to excel in her studies and achieve her dreams."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In the mild background, the trabeculae were consistently present, whereas, in a severe background, the trabeculae were consistently absent (Fig. 1B,C).

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

There was a clear gradation from mild to more severe background abnormalities and epileptiform activity.

BMJ Open

Fisher exact chi-square test (1-tailed) was used post hoc to verify whether a better yield of ERP components occurred with less severe background EEG abnormality.

Annals of Neurology

Such a method is instrumental in separating the primary impact-generated flexural waves from severe background contamination.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

"And I think [Obama] should have more severe background checks for people that are applying for gun permits, serious background checks, to the point of finger-printing".

The Guardian

After the restart, the HERA collider suffered from severe background problems and therefore the ZEUS experiment collected significant luminosity only since the end of 2004.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Note that these are severe background traffic conditions, which are unlikely to be found in real deployments, but which allow us to derive conclusions in a worst case scenario.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The severe background fluorescence and scattering light of real biological samples or environmental samples largely reduce the sensitivity and accuracy of fluorescence resonance energy transfer sensors based on fluorescent quantum dots (QDs).

Biosensors and Bioelectronics

For that matter, Mike Bloomberg's own city, New York, had the most severe background check system, the Sullivan Law, on the books since 1908.

Huffington Post

However, a practical difficulty of performing FDG imaging in the search for coronary lesion instability lies in the physical activity of the cardiac muscle, which results in high glucose requirements and thus severe background signal.

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

This reflects the following details: the proportion of patients with severe background EEG abnormality compared to moderate background EEG abnormality showing all obligatory ERP components was 4 of 16 versus 7 of 8 during sleep (Fisher exact test, p = 0.025) and 2 of 12 versus 9 of 10 during wakefulness (p = 0.001).

Annals of Neurology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a severe background", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific challenges or hardships faced. Providing concrete details strengthens the impact and avoids vagueness.

Common error

Avoid using "a severe background" when the challenges faced are relatively minor or common. Reserve it for situations involving significant hardship or adversity to maintain its intended impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a severe background" functions as a noun phrase that describes a challenging or difficult personal history. It typically modifies a noun or pronoun, providing context about someone's past experiences, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a severe background" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a past marked by significant challenges and adversities. Ludwig confirms its usability and provides examples across diverse contexts, including science and news. While not extremely common, it's a powerful way to convey the impact of difficult experiences. Be mindful of the intensity of the phrase and ensure it aligns with the actual circumstances being described. Consider using alternative terms like "challenging past" or "difficult history" to soften the description when necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a challenging past

Replaces "severe" with "challenging", softening the intensity of the description.

a harsh early life

Replaces "severe" with "harsh" and "background" with "early life", highlighting the unpleasant nature of early experiences.

a difficult history

Substitutes "background" with "history", offering a more direct and general term.

a troubled upbringing

Focuses specifically on the upbringing aspect of the background, implying difficulties during childhood.

a traumatic history

Emphasizes the presence of deeply distressing or disturbing events in the past.

a disadvantaged start

Highlights the lack of opportunities and resources in the person's early life.

a deprived childhood

Emphasizes the lack of essential needs and positive experiences during childhood.

an adverse environment

Shifts focus to the surrounding conditions that contributed to the difficulties.

a checkered past

Implies a history marked by both good and bad events, with a focus on the problematic aspects.

a complicated life story

Highlights the complexity and potential difficulties within the person's life narrative.

FAQs

What does "a severe background" mean?

The phrase "a severe background" refers to a past characterized by significant hardship, adversity, or disadvantage, which has had a profound impact on an individual's life.

How can I use "a severe background" in a sentence?

You might say, "Despite having "a severe background", she achieved remarkable success" or "His decisions were heavily influenced by "a severe background" of poverty and neglect."

What are some alternatives to "a severe background"?

Alternatives include "a challenging past", "a difficult history", or "a troubled upbringing", depending on the specific aspect you want to emphasize.

Is it appropriate to use "a severe background" in formal writing?

Yes, "a severe background" is appropriate for formal writing when describing genuinely difficult or adverse circumstances. However, ensure the tone remains respectful and avoids sensationalism.