a very serious case

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a very serious case" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation that requires significant attention or concern, often in legal, medical, or professional contexts. Example: "The investigation revealed a very serious case of fraud that could have far-reaching implications for the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

"It is a very serious case.

The Guardian - Sport

"They think it is a very serious case.

The New York Times

"This is a very serious case of perverting the course of justice.

Independent

Even so, the commissioner, Sir Anthony May, described it as a very serious case.

The Guardian

"It's a very serious case," said Mindy Talmadge, the Fire Department spokeswoman.

The New York Times

"I suppose, potentially, in a very serious case, it could be regarded as a contempt of court.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Severe asthmatic patient who requires the use of invasive mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit is, despite its low incidence, a potentially very serious case, which requires early and very specific respiratory care.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

The State Department announced that it was "seeing a very, very serious case made for termination" of the contract.

The New York Times

If it really is in Tromsø, that's a very, very serious case for us to investigate," Moen explains, somewhat pointlessly.

Vice

"Indeed, most appalling is the fact that counsel never hired an investigator in this very serious case and appears to have conducted no investigation at all beyond interviewing defendant's family members," the judge wrote.

The New York Times

The former judge's report noted: "In one very serious case last year an employee at GCHQ deliberately undertook a number of unauthorised searches for related communications data.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or medical situations, using "a very serious case" emphasizes the gravity and potential consequences involved, prompting careful consideration and action.

Common error

Avoid using "a very serious case" in everyday conversation or trivial situations, as it can sound overdramatic. Opt for more appropriate language to match the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a very serious case" functions as a noun phrase, where "serious" modifies the noun "case", indicating the high importance or severity of the situation. Ludwig examples, confirm this usage across diverse source types, from news reports to scientific publications.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

4%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a very serious case" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to emphasize the importance or severity of a situation. Ludwig AI affirms its validity and provides numerous examples across different contexts, predominantly in news, science, and formal business settings. While versatile, it is best suited for neutral to professional registers and should be avoided in overly casual contexts to prevent sounding overdramatic. Alternative phrases include "a grave situation" and "a critical matter".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a grave situation

This phrase replaces "case" with "situation" and "very serious" with "grave", implying a dire or critical condition.

a critical matter

Replaces "case" with "matter" and "very serious" with "critical", suggesting a situation demanding immediate attention.

a significant issue

Substitutes "case" with "issue" and "very serious" with "significant", denoting a problem of considerable importance.

a dire circumstance

Replaces "case" with "circumstance" and "very serious" with "dire", indicating a situation of extreme urgency and distress.

a pressing concern

Substitutes "case" with "concern" and "very serious" with "pressing", highlighting an issue requiring immediate action.

an urgent affair

Replaces "case" with "affair" and "very serious" with "urgent", emphasizing the need for prompt attention and resolution.

a momentous instance

Substitutes "case" with "instance" and "very serious" with "momentous", suggesting an event of great importance and consequence.

a consequential event

Replaces "case" with "event" and "very serious" with "consequential", indicating an occurrence with significant repercussions.

a substantial problem

Substitutes "case" with "problem" and "very serious" with "substantial", denoting a difficulty of considerable magnitude.

a weighty subject

Replaces "case" with "subject" and "very serious" with "weighty", suggesting a topic of considerable importance and complexity.

FAQs

How can I use "a very serious case" in a sentence?

You can use "a very serious case" to describe situations with significant consequences, such as "The doctor confirmed it was "a very serious case" of pneumonia requiring immediate treatment."

What are some alternatives to "a very serious case"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a grave situation", "a critical matter", or "a significant issue" to convey a similar meaning.

When is it appropriate to use "a very serious case"?

It's appropriate to use "a very serious case" when describing situations that demand immediate attention, involve high stakes, or have potentially severe consequences, often in professional or formal settings.

Is "a very serious case" too formal for casual conversations?

Yes, "a very serious case" might sound too formal or overdramatic in casual conversations. Consider using less intense alternatives like "a big deal" or "something important".