a severe burden

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a severe burden" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or heavy load, whether physical, emotional, or metaphorical. Example: "The sudden loss of her job became a severe burden on her finances and mental health."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

The world's major economies now face a severe burden.

The New York Times

Immigrants do pose a severe burden on particular communities at particular times.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The time and expense of pursuing something through the court system is a severe burden," he said.

The New York Times

Hundreds of ships are anchored idly in ports around the world because they lack customers, creating a severe burden for Commerzbank and other European lenders.

The New York Times

The suit asked Judge John Gleeson of Federal District Court to declare that the current system "imposes a severe burden on the candidates' and voters' fundamental right to vote" and requested that the court bar the conventions.

The New York Times

The largest hospital in Johannesburg, and indeed in all Africa, is Baragwanath, a sprawling complex on the northern edge of Soweto; it serves more than 5,000 patients per day, placing a severe burden on limited facilities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

In addition, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score was calculated, which is the weighted sum of 19 categories of comorbidity defined using ICD-9-CM diagnoses codes, with a higher score indicating a more severe burden of comorbidity and a higher mortality risk 15, 16.

Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism

Despite these similarities DM in Poland seems to constitute a more severe burden to the health care budget.

European Journal of Health Economics

The practice is significant for schoolchildren, who might suffer a more severe burden of hygiene-related diseases compared to adults (11– 11).

Global Health Action

The number of visits in the previous year was significantly higher in those who live closer to hospital, with a more severe burden of overall comorbidity, and who were on pharmacological treatment.

BMC Health Services Research

Results of the stepwise multiple ordered logistic regression analysis showed that the number of visits was significantly higher in patients with shorter distance from home to hospital, in those with a more severe burden of overall comorbidity, and in those on pharmacological treatment (Model 1 in Table 2).

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a severe burden", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being burdened. Be specific about the affected entity or area, such as "a severe burden on the healthcare system".

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the impact of the burden. Using "a severe burden" implies a significant negative effect; ensure the situation warrants such strong language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a severe burden" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb like "impose", "place", or "create". It describes something that causes significant difficulty or hardship, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a severe burden" is a commonly used phrase to describe something that causes significant difficulty or hardship. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use across various contexts, particularly in science and news media. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines what is being burdened and avoid overstating the severity. Alternatives such as "a heavy load" or "a significant hardship" can be used depending on the nuance you wish to convey. This phrase effectively highlights the negative impact or strain caused by a particular situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a heavy load

Focuses on the weight and difficulty of the burden, emphasizing its heaviness.

a significant hardship

Highlights the difficulty and suffering caused by the burden.

a major strain

Emphasizes the pressure and tension resulting from the burden.

a considerable encumbrance

This suggests something that hinders or impedes progress or freedom.

a crushing weight

Emphasizes the overwhelming and oppressive nature of the burden.

a debilitating problem

Highlights the weakening or disabling effect of the burden.

a taxing responsibility

Focuses on the demanding and exhausting nature of the burden as a duty.

a formidable challenge

Highlights the difficulty and the need for significant effort to overcome the burden.

a grave concern

Focuses on the seriousness and worry associated with the burden.

an onerous task

Emphasizes the unpleasant and difficult nature of the burden as a job or duty.

FAQs

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

You can use "a severe burden" to describe something that causes significant difficulty or hardship. For instance, "The pandemic placed a severe burden on the economy".

What are some alternatives to "a severe burden"?

Alternatives include "a heavy load", "a significant hardship", or "a major strain", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "a heavy burden" or "a severe burden"?

Both "a heavy burden" and "a severe burden" are correct, but "a severe burden" implies a greater degree of intensity and negative impact than "a heavy burden".

What does it mean to say something imposes "a severe burden on" something else?

To say something imposes "a severe burden on" something else means it creates significant difficulties, hardship, or strain for that thing. For example, "The new regulations imposed a severe burden on small businesses".