active criticism

USAGE SUMMARY

"active criticism" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a type of criticism that is direct, aggressive, and outspoken. For example, "She is known for her active criticism of the government's policies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Sontag's resistance to active criticism is of a piece with her formalist advocacy (as she wrote in the 1965 essay "On Style") of "the "autonomy of the work of art" (what about the autonomy of the artist, the viewer, the critic?); of art as "stylized, dehumanized representation"; and, as she wrote in the journals, against "the bourgeois myth of the artist".

The New Yorker

"The Times and our readers are quite concerned about the six active criticism leak cases that the Obama administration has pursued.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Yet others who get pregnant or are sexually active face criticism from the community because of potential transmission of HIV to their children or transmission to other community members [ 59].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

In many respects, and given the critical role assumed by designers in culture, a larger form of active judgment and criticism can be produced in the context of a specific design problem; and in particular cases, this judgment and criticism must be produced.

Thoughts on Interaction Design

Good criticism exemplifies active engagement rather than passive consumption, and is an education for us all.

The Guardian

The site, which has more than 400 million active users, has faced criticism from regulators and advocacy groups around the world.

BBC

Mr. Kerry, who like his wife is an active Roman Catholic, has faced criticism from some church officials for taking Communion despite his support of abortion rights.

The New York Times

In addition to his art production, he has been a founder of Biz Art, a now-defunct alternative space in Shanghai and Art-Ba-Ba, a Web site that provides a forum for grass-roots art criticism, still vitally active.

The New York Times

When he sees Bob Mush, Hilliard complains that the First Gentleman's criticism of his active politics feels particularly unkind: Mush is a man, after all, and he knows what it's like to be crushed into the submissive role of a political spouse.

The New Yorker

This scholarly paper collects "numerous published examples of incompetent criticism in which critics reveal that they cannot tell passives from actives.

BBC

A group of Roman Catholic nuns has begun a nine-state bus tour protesting proposed federal budget cuts, saying it was not trying to flout recent Vatican criticisms of socially active nuns but felt called to show how Republican policies are affecting low-income families.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "active criticism" to describe situations where the criticism is not just present but is being openly and vigorously expressed.

Common error

Avoid using "active criticism" when a more neutral term like "feedback" or "analysis" would be more appropriate. Not all critique needs to be described as "active".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "active criticism" functions as a noun phrase where "active" modifies "criticism". It describes a specific type of criticism that is characterized by its directness and intensity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English to denote direct, aggressive, and outspoken critique.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "active criticism" is a valid and useful phrase for describing criticism that is direct, vigorous, and openly expressed. As Ludwig AI points out, it’s suitable for contexts where the critique is not subtle but is actively voiced. While grammatically correct and present in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, it's less frequent than more general terms like "feedback". When writing, be mindful of the nuance that "active criticism" suggests a more intense and potentially confrontational approach compared to more neutral alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vigorous critique

Replaces "criticism" with "critique" and "active" with "vigorous", emphasizing the intensity of the criticism.

sharp critique

Employs "critique" in place of "criticism" and "sharp" for "active", indicating a pointed and incisive form of criticism.

explicit critique

Replaces "active" with "explicit", focusing on the clarity and directness of the criticism.

robust censure

Substitutes "criticism" with "censure" and "active" with "robust", suggesting a strong and forceful disapproval.

forthright condemnation

Replaces "criticism" with "condemnation" and "active" with "forthright", implying a direct and open expression of disapproval.

intense disapproval

Uses "disapproval" instead of "criticism" and "intense" for "active", highlighting the strength of negative sentiment.

energetic denunciation

Uses "denunciation" instead of "criticism" and "energetic" for "active", conveying a lively and forceful expression of disapproval.

pointed objection

Substitutes "criticism" with "objection" and "active" with "pointed", suggesting a specific and noticeable form of disagreement.

direct opposition

Substitutes "criticism" with "opposition" and "active" with "direct", emphasizing a straightforward and confrontational stance.

vigilant oversight

Shifts the focus to proactive monitoring and assessment, rather than explicit criticism, implying a more constructive approach.

FAQs

How can I use "active criticism" in a sentence?

You can use "active criticism" to describe situations where someone is openly and vigorously criticizing something. For example, "The project faced "active criticism" from the community."

What are some alternatives to "active criticism"?

Some alternatives to "active criticism" include "vigorous critique", "sharp critique", or "forthright condemnation", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "active criticism" the same as constructive criticism?

"Active criticism" implies a more direct and potentially confrontational form of critique, while constructive criticism aims to provide feedback that helps improve something. They are not necessarily the same; "constructive criticism" is generally intended to be helpful.

When is it appropriate to use "active criticism" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "active criticism" when you want to emphasize that the criticism is not passive or subtle, but rather a forceful and direct expression of disapproval or disagreement. Ensure the context warrants such a strong term.