abject neglect

USAGE SUMMARY

'abject neglect' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to something that has been completely ignored or neglected. Example sentence: She was filled with rage at the abject neglect of her once beloved family home.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

What I consider the abject neglect of a lot of the teenagers I've come across.

The Guardian

And its abject neglect since 1997 should be seen as a major cause of the failure of the reform movement.

The New York Times

"There's far greater danger in the UK now of children being left in circumstances of abject neglect than there are of children being taken away from decent families.

Independent

"We are talking about something entirely positive, rescuing children from abject neglect and giving them a family who will love and value them," said Narey, summing up the campaign's sunny mood.

The Guardian - Opinion

In an interview with the Guardian last month after he was shortlisted for the award, the author of Winston Smith said he was motivated to start the blog last February by "the abject neglect of a lot of the teenagers I've come across".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

What abject carelessness!

The Guardian - Sport

For the roots of this crisis go beyond an abject failure of financial governance and neglect of warnings of the risks being run.

Huffington Post

It neglected to mention its abject judicial humiliation a year ago following grotesque delays in processing Personal Independence Payments.

The Guardian

There was medical neglect, starvation, racial slurs, denial of water, abject filth, and even a prisoner who had been driven to suicide.

Vice

The display includes extended wall vitrines lightly strewn with sculptural fragments, found detritus and occasional bits of neon that suggest a kind of abject situation -- architectural or stage-set models or neglected displays of antiquities.

The New York Times

Amnesty, quoting a U.N. report from 2006, described the region as suffering from "administrative neglect, crumbling social infrastructure and services, high unemployment, social deprivation, abject poverty, filth and squalor, and endemic conflict".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "abject neglect", ensure the context clearly demonstrates a severe lack of care or attention, as "abject" intensifies the sense of neglect. This phrase is useful for highlighting extreme situations where something or someone has been utterly forsaken.

Common error

Avoid using "abject neglect" in situations where the level of neglect is only moderate. The term "abject" implies an extreme condition, and using it in a milder context can weaken your writing and diminish the impact of the phrase when used appropriately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abject neglect" functions as a noun phrase, where "abject" is an adjective intensifying the noun "neglect". This construction emphasizes the severity and completeness of the neglect, as shown by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "abject neglect" is a phrase used to describe a situation characterized by extreme lack of care or attention. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and serves to express strong criticism or concern. It's most commonly found in news and media, and is considered formal in tone. While "abject neglect" isn't very common, when used appropriately, it effectively highlights dire situations of extreme disregard. Using similar phrases such as "utter abandonment" or "complete disregard" can add nuance to your writing. Also, be cautious not to overuse this phrase in mild situations to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utter abandonment

Replaces "neglect" with "abandonment" to emphasize complete desertion and lack of care; "utter" intensifies the degree of abandonment.

complete disregard

Focuses on the lack of attention and consideration, using "complete" to highlight the thoroughness of the disregard.

total dereliction

Emphasizes a failure to fulfill a duty or responsibility, with "total" underscoring the absolute nature of the failure.

extreme negligence

Substitutes "neglect" with "negligence" to highlight a failure to exercise reasonable care, and "extreme" amplifies the degree of negligence.

gross oversight

Highlights a serious failure to notice or prevent something, with "gross" indicating a significant level of carelessness.

blatant disregard

Emphasizes an open and unashamed lack of respect or attention, using "blatant" to denote the obviousness of the disregard.

severe inattention

Focuses on the lack of attention, using "severe" to indicate the seriousness of the inattention.

profound indifference

Highlights a deep lack of concern or interest, with "profound" intensifying the depth of the indifference.

flagrant dereliction of duty

Emphasizes a scandalous neglect of responsibility, adding the explicit element of "duty".

criminal negligence

Emphasizes the severity of neglect to the point of being considered a crime.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "abject neglect" in a sentence?

Use "abject neglect" to describe situations where there is a severe and complete lack of care or attention. For example: "The city suffered from the abject neglect of its infrastructure."

What phrases can I use instead of "abject neglect"?

Alternatives to "abject neglect" include "utter abandonment", "complete disregard", or "extreme negligence", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "abject neglect" formal or informal?

"Abject neglect" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for professional writing, news reports, and academic contexts. It's less common in everyday conversation.

What is the difference between "abject neglect" and simple "neglect"?

The word "abject" intensifies the meaning of "neglect". While "neglect" simply means a lack of care or attention, "abject neglect" implies a severe, complete, and often shameful lack of care.