committed an enormity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "committed an enormity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of committing a serious or shocking offense or wrongdoing. Example: "The politician committed an enormity that shocked the entire nation, leading to widespread protests."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Having committed an enormity, how does the priest go on with the rest of his life?

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I have committed an error.

BBC

You committed a sin".

The New York Times - Magazine

Has either committed a crime?

The Economist

These executives committed a crime.

The New York Times

I committed a scientific error.

Science Magazine

The briefest exposure to any part of last year's Goldstone Report on Israel's invasion of Gaza shows that even if you leave aside the massive Palestinian casualties the Israelis committed various enormities: the destruction of Gaza's flour mill, the deliberate targeting of sewage plants and the like.

Forbes

They may, like Shahzad, stay mum about their growing disaffection before they suddenly commit some enormity.

Forbes

To commit a Facebook felony?

The New Yorker

You are committing a sin".

The New York Times

Commit a Time.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overuse of this phrase in informal writing, as it can sound overly dramatic.

Common error

Be careful not to use "enormity" when you mean "enormousness". "Enormity" refers to extreme wickedness, while "enormousness" refers to great size. For example, say "the enormity of the crime" not "the enormousness of the crime" if you want to emphasize its moral depravity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of the phrase "committed an enormity" is that of a verb phrase acting as a predicate, where "committed" is the transitive verb and "an enormity" serves as its direct object. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for describing a serious offense.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "committed an enormity" is a grammatically sound way to describe the perpetration of a profoundly wicked act, according to Ludwig. While relatively rare, the phrase is most commonly found in neutral contexts from News & Media outlets. It serves to emphasize the shocking and morally reprehensible nature of a wrongdoing. It's important to differentiate "enormity" (extreme wickedness) from "enormousness" (great size). Alternatives include "perpetrated a heinous act" and "carried out a grave misdeed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perpetrated a heinous act

This alternative replaces "enormity" with a more direct description of the act's severity.

committed a terrible offense

Replaces enormity with a more common synonym: offense.

carried out a grave misdeed

This option uses "misdeed" instead of "enormity", softening the impact slightly while maintaining the seriousness.

engaged in a terrible wrongdoing

This phrase replaces "committed" with "engaged in", offering a slightly less direct tone.

was responsible for a monstrous act

This alternative shifts the focus to responsibility rather than the act of committing.

inflicted a great wrong

This version uses "inflicted" to emphasize the harm caused by the action.

executed a flagrant violation

This phrase uses more formal language and highlights the violation of rules or norms.

performed a shocking transgression

This alternative emphasizes the transgression or boundary-crossing nature of the act.

caused a major scandal

Focuses on the scandalous outcome of the action.

unleashed a moral outrage

This option emphasizes the public's reaction to the action.

FAQs

What does "committed an enormity" mean?

The phrase "committed an enormity" means to have perpetrated a profoundly immoral or wicked act. It suggests the action was shocking and deeply offensive.

What can I say instead of "committed an enormity"?

You can use alternatives like "perpetrated a heinous act", "carried out a grave misdeed", or "committed a terrible offense" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "enormity" to describe something large in size?

While "enormity" is sometimes used to describe something large, its primary and more precise meaning refers to extreme wickedness. Using "enormousness" is more appropriate when referring to size.

How formal is the phrase "committed an enormity"?

The phrase "committed an enormity" is relatively formal and carries a strong emotional charge. It's most suitable for serious or dramatic contexts, such as news reports, historical analyses, or literary works.