gratuitous comments

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gratuitous comments" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to remarks or observations that are unnecessary or unwarranted in a given context. Example: "The meeting was unproductive, filled with gratuitous comments that distracted from the main agenda."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But Mr. Ferguson makes a couple of gratuitous comments.

The New York Times

But eBay removed the listing by the end of the day, saying it violated the company's policy against gratuitous comments.

The Guardian

If you're in a public or quasi-public arena, you get used to criticism and dealing with gratuitous comments and unfair comments".

The New York Times

Aside from some gratuitous comments on Pelzer's publishing history and personality and, of course, his brother Stephen's statements, the only support for an attack on Pelzer's veracity is a claim that Pelzer's descriptions of the abuse are too vivid.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

He disliked gratuitous comment and exaggeration.

The Guardian - Music

His gratuitous comment, "good riddance," when reporting on the Jets' departure for New Jersey, was insulting to every Jets fan reading it.

The New York Times

She registered that as a gratuitous comment.

Huffington Post

While encouraging those who agree or benefitted from the decision to celebrate it, he declared in an otherwise thoughtful and learned dissent, that the decision "had nothing to do with the Constitution", a gratuitous comment widely featured in the media.

Huffington Post

Even in the face of gratuitous anti-German comments from Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the Polish prime minister, she did not bite back.

The Economist

"When someone like that makes gratuitous and false comments with no information, there comes a time when you have to stop and you have to fight because of who you are and what you have been all your life".

The Guardian - Sport

In particular, "You must not use publicly accessible social media to discuss individual patients," and "You must not bully, harass or make gratuitous, unsubstantiated or unsustainable comments about individuals online".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gratuitous comments" when you want to emphasize that remarks are not only unnecessary but also potentially harmful or offensive due to their lack of purpose.

Common error

Avoid using "gratuitous comments" in very informal settings where simpler alternatives like "unnecessary remarks" or "unsolicited opinions" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gratuitous comments" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "gratuitous" modifies the noun "comments". It describes remarks that are uncalled for, excessive, and often serve no constructive purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable form.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "gratuitous comments" effectively describes remarks that are not only unnecessary but also potentially harmful or offensive. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable. While grammatically sound and relatively common, especially in news and media contexts, it's important to consider the formality of the setting and whether simpler alternatives might be more appropriate. The phrase's impact lies in its ability to convey disapproval of remarks deemed irrelevant or uncalled for, emphasizing their lack of constructive purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unnecessary remarks

Focuses on the lack of necessity in the comments.

needless remarks

Similar to 'unnecessary remarks', stressing the lack of need.

unsolicited opinions

Highlights the fact that the comments were not asked for.

unwarranted remarks

Emphasizes the lack of justification for the comments.

uncalled-for comments

Emphasizes that the comments were inappropriate and should not have been made.

pointless commentary

Indicates that the comments serve no useful purpose.

superfluous remarks

Highlights the excessive nature of the comments.

excessive remarks

Highlights that the amount of commenting was beyond what was expected or needed.

extraneous remarks

Suggests that the comments are not relevant to the matter at hand.

irrelevant comments

Focuses on the lack of relevance of the comments.

FAQs

How can I use "gratuitous comments" in a sentence?

You can use "gratuitous comments" to describe remarks that are unnecessary and often unwelcome, such as: "The meeting was derailed by a series of "gratuitous comments" that added no value to the discussion."

What are some synonyms for "gratuitous comments"?

Alternatives to "gratuitous comments" include "unnecessary remarks", "unsolicited opinions", or "unwarranted remarks", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "gratuitous comments"?

The phrase "gratuitous comments" is appropriate when you want to emphasize that certain remarks were not only unnecessary but also potentially offensive or harmful due to their lack of purpose or relevance.

What's the difference between "gratuitous comments" and "unnecessary comments"?

"Unnecessary comments" simply implies that the remarks weren't needed. "Gratuitous comments" suggests that the remarks were not only unnecessary but also potentially harmful or offensive because they lacked a valid purpose or justification.