a tragedy in itself

USAGE SUMMARY

"a tragedy in itself" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe a situation that is very sad, unfortunate, or disappointing, usually even more so when taking into consideration the context of the surrounding circumstances. For example, "The loss of so many innocent lives was a tragedy in itself, but even more heartbreaking when considering the families left behind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

It is a tragedy in itself.

The Economist

The civil war in this small west African state is not only a tragedy in itself but is also fuelling other wars in the region (see article).

The Economist

A bloodbath that kept Mr Mubarak in power would be a tragedy in itself and a disaster for America's reputation in the region.

The Economist

Such cowardice is a tragedy in itself, but it pales in comparison to the initial Fundamentalist furor.

Huffington Post

It's a tragedy in itself that more artists don't feel the need, or maybe even the obligation, to be decent role models.

Vice

Love and death, the latter either as a tragedy in itself or as an epic symbol of Troy's own destruction, therefore, are the two core elements of the Troilus myth for the editor of the first book-length survey of it from ancient to modern times.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

This Benghazi issue would be a tragedy in and of itself.

The New York Times

This Benghazi issue would be a tragedy in and of itself, but unfortunately it's indicative of a broader problem.

The Guardian

"The Benghazi thing would be a tragedy in and of itself if it was an isolated incident," Ryan said on WTMJ.

Huffington Post

And it's telling that she mentioned apologizing to Denny's staff before the men she actually attacked, as if Denny's was the priority (maybe she eats there a lot, which is a tragedy in and of itself).

Vice

Abortion is a tragedy in and of itself, regardless of whether or not we, as individuals or as a society, feel that it is so. 1 Corinthians 13:12 says we see things imperfectly in our finite understanding, but one day we will see with perfect clarity. Only then will our perception of abortion match reality.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a tragedy in itself" when you want to emphasize that a situation is deeply unfortunate regardless of any other contributing factors. It highlights the inherent sadness or negativity of the event.

Common error

Avoid using "a tragedy in general" when you specifically want to highlight the self-contained nature of the tragic event. The phrase "a tragedy in itself" emphasizes the inherent misfortune, whereas "a tragedy in general" makes a broader statement about its tragic quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tragedy in itself" functions as a qualifier, emphasizing the inherent unfortunate nature of a particular event or situation. Ludwig confirms its validity and understandability within the English language.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

29%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tragedy in itself" is a valid and understandable phrase used to emphasize the inherent unfortunate nature of a situation, regardless of other factors. Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically correct and understandable. While not extremely common, it appears in reputable sources like The Economist, Huffington Post, and The New York Times, mainly within news and media contexts. When writing, using this phrase highlights the self-contained and deeply unfortunate character of an event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inherently tragic

Focuses on the inherent nature of the tragedy, removing the "in itself" aspect for a more direct description.

a misfortune on its own

Replaces "tragedy" with "misfortune" and uses "on its own" instead of "in itself" to convey a similar sense of isolation.

sad in its own right

Substitutes "tragedy" with "sad" and "in itself" with "in its own right", softening the tone while maintaining the core meaning.

unfortunate by its very nature

Emphasizes the unfortunate nature of something, highlighting its intrinsic quality rather than external factors.

grievous in isolation

Uses more formal language like "grievous" and "isolation" to convey the tragedy's self-contained nature.

a self-contained catastrophe

Replaces "tragedy" with "catastrophe" and uses "self-contained" to highlight the independent nature of the event.

intrinsically devastating

Highlights the inherent devastation caused by something, replacing "tragedy" with a stronger synonym.

a complete disaster by itself

Uses simpler language like "complete disaster" and "by itself" to express the standalone tragic nature of something.

tragic as a singular event

Focuses on the singularity of the event, emphasizing that it is tragic even without considering other factors.

a pure tragedy

Emphasizes the unadulterated nature of the tragedy, removing any external influences on its sadness.

FAQs

How can I use "a tragedy in itself" in a sentence?

You can use "a tragedy in itself" to emphasize that a situation is inherently unfortunate or devastating, irrespective of other circumstances. For example, "The loss of their home was "a tragedy in itself", even before considering the financial implications."

What does "a tragedy in itself" mean?

The phrase "a tragedy in itself" means that something is deeply unfortunate or devastating on its own, without needing any additional factors to make it so. It highlights the inherent negativity or sadness of the event or situation.

Are there alternative expressions for "a tragedy in itself"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "inherently tragic", "a misfortune on its own", or "sad in its own right" to convey a similar meaning to "a tragedy in itself".

Is it grammatically correct to say "a tragedy in itself"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "a tragedy in itself". Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is valid and understandable in English, and it is used in various reputable sources.