being severe to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being severe to" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when describing someone who is strict or harsh towards another person or situation. Example: "The teacher was being severe to the students who failed to submit their assignments on time."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"What is moderate to me could be severe to you," he said.

The New York Times - Health

However, the cost would have been severe to the Greek people's sense of national dignity.

Huffington Post

He was severe to younger members of the association, whom he sometimes sharply criticised.

Wikipedia

This was severe to cause extensive excoriation.

BMC Infectious Diseases

This failure must be severe to be considered a breach.

WikiHow

"It had to be severe enough to explain why he couldn't travel," she remembers.

The New Yorker

"Perhaps they didn't perceive their reaction to be severe enough to merit epinephrine," said Dr. Greenhawt.

The New York Times

Pilot projects cost about £2bn each, running costs are unknown, and there are likely to be severe limitations to where carbon dioxide can safely be stored underground.

The Guardian

The impact was severe enough to cause visible damage to the runway.

Vice

It's not Antarctica but it's severe enough to slow the nature stuff down to a grinding halt.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Just before the election, there were severe floods to the eastern coastal plain and wildfires to the mountain west.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "being severe to", ensure the context clearly justifies the intensity of the action or consequence being described. Consider whether gentler alternatives like "being strict with" or "being firm with" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "being severe to" when a more nuanced or specific term would better convey the intended meaning. Overuse can make your writing sound melodramatic or lacking in precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being severe to" functions as a verbal phrase expressing an action or state of imposing strict or harsh treatment upon someone or something. Though Ludwig indicates that this phrase is used infrequently, examples show its potential applications in describing reactions, actions, or conditions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

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Wiki

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Less common in

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "being severe to" is a phrase used to describe the act of imposing strict or harsh treatment. Although grammatically acceptable, it is relatively rare. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase may sound awkward, with alternatives like "being harsh on" or "being tough on" often being more suitable. The phrase carries a neutral tone and can appear in various contexts, as demonstrated by the examples, although it is infrequent across all the contexts that Ludwig provides.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

being strict with

Focuses on maintaining discipline and adherence to rules, which is less intense than inflicting pain or damage.

being harsh on

Implies a lack of compassion or gentleness in dealing with someone or something, adding a nuance of unkindness.

being tough on

Highlights a firm and uncompromising approach, often for the purpose of improvement or testing resilience.

imposing strict measures on

Emphasizes the act of enforcing regulations with rigor and without exception.

subjecting to rigorous standards

Focuses on applying demanding criteria, which may or may not involve personal harshness.

applying stringent rules to

Highlights the inflexible application of regulations, often in a formal setting.

inflicting severe penalties on

Specifically refers to the act of imposing punishments that are serious and consequential.

exacting a heavy toll from

Indicates that something causes significant loss, suffering, or damage.

meting out harsh justice to

Implies dispensing a severe form of fairness or retribution, especially in a legal or moral context.

administering a stern reprimand to

Highlights a formal and severe rebuke or scolding.

FAQs

How can I use "being severe to" in a sentence?

You can use "being severe to" to describe someone's harsh treatment of someone or something. For example, "The judge was being severe to the defendant".

What can I say instead of "being severe to"?

You can use alternatives like "being strict with", "being harsh on", or "being tough on" depending on the context.

Is "being severe to" formal or informal?

"Being severe to" is generally considered neutral in formality. However, more precise alternatives might be preferable in formal writing.

What's the difference between "being severe to" and "being strict with"?

"Being severe to" implies a higher degree of harshness or intensity than "being strict with", which focuses more on adherence to rules.