an offense in and of itself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an offense in and of itself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is inherently wrong or unacceptable, regardless of any other context or circumstances. Example: "While some may argue that the action was justified, it remains an offense in and of itself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This does not make this magazine racist, but calling this cover anything less is an offense in and of itself.

Huffington Post

Dual System of LawsAlthough the systematic use of solitary confinement and physical abuse against minors is arguably an offense in and of itself, it is part of a much broader issue of the system of laws that govern the region.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is held that acquittal or conviction of an offense prohibits subsequent prosecution of a lesser offense that was included in the first.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Virginia Tech's offense was extremely successful in shutting down the Longhorns' offense in the second half of the game.

Wikipedia

Of the arrested youth in Brussels, 23% were charged for a drug offense and in Paris and Geneva close to 40%.

BMC Psychiatry

Skrepenak helped the Michigan offense gain a record 715 yards of total offense in a 35-3 victoverover Mississippi in the Gator Bowl.

Wikipedia

Specifically, of those who had committed a violent offense, 55% of patients in the absconding group had committed an offense involving serious violence (i.e., resulting in a charge of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, or sexual assault), while 77% of the control group had committed one or more of these types of offenses, χ (1, N = 91) = 4.88, p = .027.027

BMC Psychiatry

Both sexual and non-sexual offenses were listed and of the non-sexual offenses violent offenses were listed separately.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

"This lady has committed this offense or offenses in front of the world.

The New York Times

Michigan totaled 379 yards of offense in the game, slightly less than the 398 yards of offense gained by Washington State.

Wikipedia

But they still finished last in the NFL in total offense and passing offense, and 29th out of 32 in scoring.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an offense in and of itself" when you want to emphasize that an action is wrong or unacceptable regardless of context or mitigating circumstances. It adds a layer of inherent wrongfulness to the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "an offense in and of itself" in casual conversation. Its formal tone can sound pretentious or overly dramatic in everyday settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an offense in and of itself" functions as a noun phrase that serves to categorize an action or behavior as inherently wrong. It's used to emphasize that the action is wrong regardless of context. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an offense in and of itself" is a phrase used to emphasize that an action is inherently wrong, regardless of the context. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in writing. Although the phrase appears mainly in news, encyclopedias and science-related articles, indicating a formal register, overuse in informal settings should be avoided. Alternative phrases like "inherently offensive" or "unacceptable on its own" can be used depending on the specific context. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the inherent wrongfulness you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unacceptable on its own

Replaces "an offense" with "unacceptable", maintaining the sense of something being inherently wrong.

a standalone offense

Simplifies the phrase to highlight that the offense doesn't need additional context to be considered wrong.

inherently offensive

Focuses on the inherent quality of being offensive, removing the "in and of itself" structure.

in and of itself a violation

Reverses the structure slightly to emphasize the violation aspect.

intrinsically wrong

Highlights the intrinsic nature of the wrongdoing, rather than focusing on the act being an offense.

a transgression by itself

Uses "transgression" as a synonym for offense, focusing on the act of violating a rule or law.

wrongful by nature

Emphasizes the natural wrongfulness of the action, simplifying the phrase.

reprehensible in itself

Uses "reprehensible" to describe the action, stressing its blameworthiness.

fundamentally objectionable

Highlights the fundamental nature of the objection, implying inherent wrongness.

patently wrong

Emphasizes the obviousness of the wrongdoing.

FAQs

How can I use "an offense in and of itself" in a sentence?

You can use "an offense in and of itself" to emphasize that an action is inherently wrong, regardless of the surrounding circumstances. For example, "Even if it was done with good intentions, the act remains "an offense in and of itself"".

What are some alternatives to saying "an offense in and of itself"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "inherently offensive", "intrinsically wrong", or "unacceptable on its own".

Is it redundant to say "an offense in and of itself"?

While it may sound somewhat formal, "an offense in and of itself" is not necessarily redundant. The phrase emphasizes that the action is wrong inherently and doesn't require external factors to be considered an offense.

What's the difference between "an offense in and of itself" and "a simple offense"?

"An offense in and of itself" suggests the action is inherently wrong and stands alone as an offense. In contrast, "a simple offense" implies a minor wrongdoing, not necessarily inherently wrong, and potentially influenced by circumstances.