compound matters further

USAGE SUMMARY

"compound matters further" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in written English.
It is usually used to emphasize the idea that a situation is becoming increasingly complicated. For example: "The failure to act now will only compound matters further in the long run."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

And to compound matters further, front ends can be connected in series!

Columbia University

To compound matters further, the night shift and engineering chief squabbled over whether the reactor should be shut downFor several hours workers were in situ with minimal protection.

The Guardian

I thought: why don't I just do that book?" To compound matters further, the author of Homegrown and Roll Another Number for the Road had given up smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol on his doctor's advice: he suffered a brain aneurysm in 2005, the same year his father died after a long struggle with Alzheimer's.

The Guardian - Music

To compound matters further, the governor and the state legislature are pushing to make permanent a 67% income-tax increase that is due to expire.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Compounding matters further is the way long-distance transmission lines connecting utilities around the country are being used differently these days.

The Economist

Compounding matters further, we suspect that the bankers' hand will be a tad tighter next year when handing out credit.

Forbes

Walters' 67th-minute header and Keane's close-range finish four minutes later all but killed the tie off before skipper Raio Piiroja compounded matters further by joining Stepanov in the dressing room as a result of two bookings in quick succession.

BBC

Issues of integration, racism, radicalization and narratives of victimhood have compounded matters further.

Huffington Post

Compounding matters further, the band members were still under contract to their old record label and were legally disbarred from using the name "Magnapop" until their contract expired seven years later.

Wikipedia

Many of these plants compound matters even further by also reseeding.

Los Angeles Times

To further compound matters, stigma may also vary by diagnosis in that evidence suggests there is more public stigma towards schizophrenia than towards depression (Wood et al. 2014; Pescosolido et al. 2010).

Health & Justice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "compound matters further" when you want to emphasize that an action or event is making an already difficult situation even more problematic. It's suitable for formal and neutral contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "compound matters further" in very informal settings or casual conversations. Simpler phrases like "make things worse" are more appropriate for such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compound matters further" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to indicate that an action or situation is worsening an existing problem or difficulty. As confirmed by Ludwig, the expression is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "compound matters further" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey that a situation is being made increasingly complex or problematic. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While its use is appropriate across various contexts, it is most commonly found in news and media, academic writing, and scientific publications. When writing, consider that while you can use simpler terms in informal speech, "compound matters further" is most at home in formal settings to convey negative progression with clarity. Related phrases such as "worsen the situation" or "exacerbate the problem" offer interchangeable ways to phrase the problem.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complicate the issue further

This option is very close in meaning, simply rephrasing the original.

make things worse

This is a more direct and less formal way of saying something will intensify a bad situation.

worsen the situation

This alternative uses simpler vocabulary to convey the idea of making a situation worse.

exacerbate the problem

This alternative uses a more formal word, "exacerbate", to suggest intensifying the issue.

intensify the crisis

This alternative is suitable when dealing with a critical or urgent situation.

aggravate the circumstances

This alternative suggests making the current circumstances more troublesome.

heighten the difficulty

Focuses on increasing the level of difficulty in an existing problem.

add fuel to the fire

This idiomatic expression conveys the idea of intensifying an already problematic situation.

add insult to injury

This idiom suggests compounding a loss with a further disadvantage or indignity.

pour salt on the wound

Similar to "add insult to injury", it implies making suffering worse.

FAQs

How can I use "compound matters further" in a sentence?

You can use "compound matters further" to indicate that something is making an already bad situation worse. For example, "Ignoring the warning signs will only "compound matters further".

What are some alternatives to "compound matters further"?

Alternatives include "worsen the situation", "exacerbate the problem", or "make things worse", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is "compound matters further" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "compound matters further" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in professional or academic contexts. However, ensure it fits the overall tone and isn't overly complex for the intended audience.

What is the difference between "complicate matters further" and "compound matters further"?

"Complicate matters further" and "compound matters further" are very similar, but "compound" suggests an increase in the severity of existing issues, while "complicate" simply means making things more complex. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize severity or complexity.