a weight of guilt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a weight of guilt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the heavy emotional burden someone feels due to their actions or decisions that they regret. Example: "After lying to her friend, she felt a weight of guilt that she couldn't shake off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Carr said she can't close her eyes without feeling a weight of guilt descend on her.

The Guardian

Calvinists thought "negatively," as we would say today, carrying a weight of guilt and foreboding that sometimes broke their spirits.

The New York Times

"His reaction was to break down into a puddle of tears and [say] things like, 'I feel like a weight of guilt has been lifted.'" Within a month of his session with Austin, the young man, who started taking his medication, "was doing way better than he had done in years," she adds.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The tendons of his jaw swell with the strain of stifled feelings; his brows, usually tasked with double takes and farcical arching, knit with a terrible weight of guilt.

The New Yorker

Orwell's explanation, given a few years later in "The Road to Wigan Pier" (which is a far more sociological and political book, about the unemployed poor in northern England), connects the experience to his years as an imperial cop in Burma: I was conscious of an immense weight of guilt that I had got to expiate.

The New Yorker

In fact, I have an enormous weight of guilt that lies on my chest at night.

Huffington Post

On Mother's Day, you'd better deliver or you'll carry the weight of guilt for an entire year.

Los Angeles Times

"Nobody actually wants to read all the news from all the publications," Enan explains, referring to the crushing weight of guilt that comes from placing a new unread publication that just turned up in the mail on top of a neat stack of other neatly stacked unread publications.

TechCrunch

With willingness to feel the full weight of guilt and anxiety, perhaps I can see there is a small point of peace in the midst of the heaviness.

Huffington Post

Better merged than submerged, perhaps, drowned beneath the weight of guilt and impossible expectations.

The Guardian - Money

You always get a good slap across the face, and you accept it because you have no other option because the weight of guilt is just too great.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a weight of guilt" to effectively convey the significant emotional burden someone carries due to regret or wrongdoing. It is particularly useful when describing internal emotional states or the lasting impact of past actions.

Common error

Ensure that the source of the "weight of guilt" is clearly identified within the context. Vague or ambiguous references can weaken the impact of the phrase and confuse the reader about the reason for the guilt.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a weight of guilt" functions as a noun phrase that describes a specific emotional state. It is used to express the burden and remorse felt due to a past action or event, as illustrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science & Research

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a weight of guilt" is a phrase used to describe the heavy emotional burden caused by regret or wrongdoing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides examples illustrating its use in various contexts, primarily in News & Media. While relatively rare, its impact is significant when conveying intense remorse. Related phrases like "burden of guilt" and "heavy conscience" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. When using this phrase, ensure the source of guilt is clear to maximize its effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

burden of guilt

Focuses on the oppressive feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing; slightly more direct.

load of guilt

Highlights the amount of guilt someone is feeling.

crushing guilt

Emphasizes the overwhelming nature of guilt; similar in intensity.

heavy conscience

Implies a moral awareness that causes distress; emphasizes the internal struggle.

overwhelming remorse

Similar to crushing guilt, with emphasis on the feeling of regret.

feeling of remorse

Emphasizes sorrow and regret, rather than the burden.

feeling of culpability

Focuses on the feeling of being responsible or blameworthy.

sense of culpability

Highlights the state of being responsible for something, often in a formal context.

pang of guilt

Describes a sudden, sharp feeling of guilt; less sustained than "a weight of guilt".

moral burden

Highlights the ethical aspect of the guilt; less specific to wrongdoing.

FAQs

How can I use "a weight of guilt" in a sentence?

You can use "a weight of guilt" to describe the feeling of being burdened by remorse or responsibility for a wrongdoing. For example: "After the accident, he carried "a weight of guilt" for the rest of his life."

What phrases are similar to "a weight of guilt"?

Similar phrases include "burden of guilt", "heavy conscience", or "feeling of remorse". Each alternative emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the emotional experience.

Is it correct to say "an weight of guilt" instead of "a weight of guilt"?

No, the correct article to use is "a" because "weight" begins with a consonant sound. "An" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

What's the difference between "a weight of guilt" and "a sense of guilt"?

"A weight of guilt" implies a heavier, more persistent burden, while "a sense of guilt" can describe a milder, more fleeting feeling of culpability.