at the severity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at the severity" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to the level or degree of severity in a specific context, but as it stands, it lacks clarity. Example: "The decision was made at the severity of the situation, which required immediate action."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Basically, the Fund looks at the severity of the downturns in countries practicing severe fiscal austerity and says, gee, maybe fiscal policy has a big impact after all.

The New York Times

Canada has protested at the severity of the sentences.

The Economist

Most of them were surprised at the severity of the fine.

The New York Times - Sports

"One, that the American officials are concerned and surprised at the severity of the sentence.

The New York Times

Some Atlanta residents said Tuesday that they were shocked at the severity of the punishment.

The New York Times

He, too, is both surprised at the severity of the sentence and concerned about Mr. Tobin's situation".

The New York Times

However, some analysts expressed surprise at the severity of the profits decline, with the partnership overall reporting an 18% fall in pre-tax profit to £90.4m.

The Guardian - Business

As a compromise, the White House in 2014 announced a review board that would look at the severity of such software flaws government investigators wanted to keep secret.

The Guardian - Tech

Despite thinking of himself as a numbers kind of composer, Nyman was shocked at the severity of the structure Jeyasingh had given him.

The Guardian

The Uruguay manager himself is to resign his position from the governing body's technical study group in protest at the severity of the sanction.

The Guardian - Sport

The Liverpool managing director, Ian Ayre, said: "Both the club and player are shocked and disappointed at the severity of today's Independent Regulatory Commission decision.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Review your sentence to determine the exact relationship you want to express. If you mean 'because of,' use that phrase instead for clearer communication.

Common error

Avoid using "at the severity" in formal writing. While it appears in numerous sources, it's often flagged as grammatically incorrect by style guides and AI grammar tools. Always opt for clearer, more accepted alternatives such as "regarding the severity."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the severity" functions as a prepositional phrase, often attempting to modify a verb or noun by specifying a condition or circumstance related to how serious something is. Despite its frequent appearance in various sources, Ludwig flags it as grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Despite its frequent appearance across varied sources, including news, academic papers, and encyclopedias, the phrase "at the severity" is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI flags this expression, suggesting that while its intent is to emphasize the magnitude or intensity of a situation, clearer alternatives like "regarding the severity", "concerning the severity", or "due to the severity" should be preferred to ensure precision and grammatical correctness. While commonly encountered, especially in News & Media, it's best to opt for more refined phrasing in formal or professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regarding the severity

This alternative replaces "at the" with "regarding", creating a more direct and grammatically sound prepositional phrase.

concerning the severity

This option uses "concerning" instead of "at the", providing a slightly more formal tone while maintaining a similar meaning.

considering the severity

This alternative uses "considering" to shift the focus to a more thoughtful evaluation of the severity.

given the severity

Replacing "at the" with "given the" emphasizes the severity as a condition or premise.

in light of the severity

This phrase adds more emphasis to the context, indicating that something is being viewed or understood because of the severity.

based on the severity

This alternative highlights that decisions or actions are directly influenced by the level of severity.

reflecting the severity

This option suggests that something mirrors or indicates the degree of severity.

due to the severity

Replacing "at the" with "due to the" indicates a cause-and-effect relationship where severity is the cause.

because of the severity

Similar to "due to the", this phrase provides a causal link, but is slightly less formal.

taking into account the severity

This emphasizes a deliberate consideration of the level of severity in a decision-making process.

FAQs

Is "at the severity" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "at the severity" is grammatically incorrect. It's better to use alternatives like "regarding the severity" or "concerning the severity" for clarity.

What can I say instead of "at the severity"?

You can use alternatives like "regarding the severity", "concerning the severity", or "considering the severity" depending on the specific context.

How can I improve the sentence using "at the severity"?

Replace "at the severity" with a more grammatically sound phrase like "in light of the severity", or rephrase the sentence to use "due to the severity" if you mean to indicate cause and effect.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "at the severity"?

While "at the severity" appears in various sources, it is generally advisable to avoid this phrase in formal writing. Opt for more precise alternatives to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.