devastating issue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devastating issue" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a problem or situation that has severe negative consequences or impacts. Example: "The community is facing a devastating issue with the rising unemployment rates, which is affecting families and local businesses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

By engaging deeply with our audience throughout this series, and by encouraging them to be part of the solution, we hope to collectively create genuine change on this devastating issue".

The Guardian

Miscarriage is another devastating issue, albeit one that gets little coverage.

Vice

Someecards, for example, is doing what it does best, giving us reason to LOL even while facing a devastating issue.

Huffington Post

"The person asking the question was missing the point that unrestricted guns are a devastating issue," Daley press secretary Jacquelyn Heard told the Sun-Times....Daley walked back the comment under questioning from reporters.

Huffington Post

To demonstrate how long overdue summer hunger reform is, No Kid Hungry recently unveiled a campaign that shows how far some advancements have come since 1975, while this devastating issue has seen little progress.

Huffington Post

The Foreign Secretary is to be applauded for his work to focus the world's attention on this devastating issue, which has for far too long been taboo.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Hip fractures constitute a major public health issue, given their prevalence and devastating effect on personal autonomy.

BMC Geriatrics

They face devastating health issues and society often treats survivors like "villains". "You cannot kill an entrenched ideology with a gun". The industry often doesn't invest in medications and vaccines for people who can't afford to pay high prices.

HuffPost

Two of President Obama's predecessors saw their presidencies devastated over this issue.

The Washington Post

Rodriguez pointed to posts on the Weird Wave Instagram account that described protesters as "yokels" or blithely dismissed the pickets as a "party" as proof that the owners are not taking "an issue that's devastating the community" seriously.

Vice

Rodriguez pointed to posts on the Weird Wave Instagram account that described protestors as "yokels" or blithely dismissed the pickets as a "party" as proof that the owners are not taking "an issue that's devastating the community" seriously.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "devastating issue", ensure the context clearly supports the use of such a strong term. Reserve it for situations with genuinely severe and widespread negative consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "devastating issue" to describe minor inconveniences or problems. Overusing strong language dilutes its impact when describing truly serious situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devastating issue" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "devastating" modifies the noun "issue". This construction serves to emphasize the severity and negative impact of the issue being discussed. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "devastating issue" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe problems with severe negative consequences. Ludwig AI indicates it's suitable for various writing contexts. While relatively uncommon, its usage spans news, science, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, ensure the gravity of the situation warrants such strong language, and avoid overuse to maintain its impact. Consider alternatives like "critical problem" or "serious crisis" for situations that require less emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critical problem

Replaces "devastating" with a more general term for seriousness.

serious crisis

Emphasizes the urgency and potential for harm.

dire situation

Focuses on the negative and urgent aspects of the issue.

urgent problem

Highlights both the immediacy and problematic nature.

grave concern

Highlights the worrying nature of the issue.

pressing matter

Emphasizes the urgency and need for immediate attention.

major catastrophe

Focuses on the catastrophic nature of the issue.

terrible predicament

Focuses on the difficult and unfortunate circumstances.

tragic affair

Highlights the sad and unfortunate nature of the problem.

significant challenge

Understates the severity, framing it as a difficulty to overcome.

FAQs

How can I use "devastating issue" in a sentence?

Use "devastating issue" to describe a problem or situation with significant negative consequences. For example, "The country faces a "devastating issue" with rising unemployment rates."

What are some alternatives to "devastating issue"?

You can use alternatives like "critical problem", "serious crisis", or "grave concern" depending on the specific context and desired level of emphasis.

Is "devastating issue" too strong for some situations?

Yes, "devastating issue" implies a severe and widespread negative impact. If the problem is less severe, consider using milder terms like "significant challenge" or "pressing matter".

What makes an issue "devastating"?

A "devastating issue" is characterized by its potential to cause widespread damage, suffering, or loss. The scale and severity of the consequences are key factors in determining whether this term is appropriate.