a very serious thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a very serious thing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize the gravity or importance of a situation or issue. Example: "The decision to cut funding for education is a very serious thing that will affect future generations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

"This is a very serious thing.

The New York Times

It's a very serious thing".

The New York Times

Hepatitis C is a very serious thing".

The New York Times

"A vote is a very serious thing," she said.

The New York Times

As Mark Twain said, "A joke is a very serious thing".

The New York Times

"It's a very serious thing that affects your children, our children, our grandchildren".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

Keyser told The Denver Post on Monday that some of his signatures to get on the ballot "were turned in in an improper manner, and that's a very, very serious thing".

Huffington Post

"The generalized and indiscriminate surveillance of citizens, reasonably also European citizens, beyond any criminal evidence, through data coming from phone calls or from the Web, is a very, very serious thing" he wrote to the Italian Parliament.

The New York Times

It was a very, very serious thing when we were asked to do it.

Huffington Post

"He has this very, very serious thing going on" – she puts on a hyper-intense Cruise-style glare – "really fascinating".

The Guardian - Film

Keira Naughton is sweetly believable as a child at a birthday party, where the grown-ups are discussing very serious things in the background.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a very serious thing" to underscore the importance or potential consequences of a situation, particularly when addressing sensitive or critical matters.

Common error

Avoid using "a very serious thing" repeatedly in a single text. Overuse can dilute its impact. Instead, vary your language by incorporating synonyms like "critical issue", "grave matter", or other context-specific alternatives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a very serious thing" functions primarily as a noun phrase, serving as the subject complement or object in a sentence. Ludwig indicates its correctness and usability, affirming its role in conveying importance or gravity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Science

9%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a very serious thing" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to emphasize the importance or gravity of a situation. As Ludwig confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, especially in news and media. While versatile, varying your language with alternatives like "a critical issue" or "a grave matter" can prevent overuse and maintain impact. When writing, consider the formality of your audience and choose synonyms that best convey the intended level of seriousness. This helps prevent the text from being too repetitive and keeps the meaning impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a critical issue

Substitutes "serious" with "critical," suggesting the issue requires immediate attention and is of utmost importance.

a significant problem

Uses "significant" to emphasize the substantial impact or scale of the problem.

a grave matter

Replaces "thing" with "matter" and uses "grave" to convey seriousness, implying significant potential consequences.

a matter of consequence

Highlights that the issue is important and will have noticeable effects or ramifications.

a weighty concern

Replaces "serious" with "weighty," highlighting the burden or significance of the concern.

no laughing matter

An idiomatic expression indicating that a situation should not be treated lightly, stressing its seriousness.

a substantial affair

Indicates that the situation is large in scope or importance, warranting careful attention and resources.

something of great import

Replaces the common phrasing with a more formal and emphatic way of expressing the significance of something.

a major undertaking

Shifts the focus to an activity or project, describing it as large-scale and demanding careful consideration.

a momentous occasion

Emphasizes the historical or far-reaching importance of an event, often implying a turning point.

FAQs

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

You can use "a very serious thing" to emphasize the importance or gravity of a situation. For example, "The decision to close the factory is "a very serious thing" for the entire community".

What are some alternatives to saying "a very serious thing"?

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

Is it appropriate to use "a very serious thing" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a very serious thing" may sound less formal. In formal writing, consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "a matter of consequence" or "something of great import".

What's the difference between "a serious thing" and "a very serious thing"?

Adding "very" intensifies the seriousness. "A serious thing" indicates something is important, but ""a very serious thing"" underscores a higher level of gravity or potential impact.