grave cases

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grave cases" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to serious or severe situations that require urgent attention or action. Example: "The committee will review grave cases of misconduct to determine appropriate disciplinary actions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

They are all grave cases.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Increasingly," he says, "counseling centers on college campuses will need to deal with long-term and grave cases as well".

The New York Times

First, it is seen as a vehicle for counsel to put before the fact-finder - in grave cases, a jury - his client's version of events.

The Guardian

Rights activists have long complained that officials acted with impunity in grave cases, like the death of Sandro Girgvliani, a bank executive who was abducted by law enforcement officers in 2006 after an altercation.

The New York Times

A spokesman for Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, said he was "concerned about allegations that Unmiss did not respond appropriately to prevent this and other grave cases of sexual violence committed in Juba" and had ordered an independent special investigation.

The Guardian

In grave cases they may try to correct them by economic sanctions, or even by military intervention.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

From what we've learned, this is a very, very grave, serious case".

The New York Times

But his focus in this grave case was not only self-serving, it was shamelessly distorted.

The New York Times - Sports

But now the faithful — liberals, for the most part — seemed to be suffering a grave case of disappointed expectations.

The New Yorker

Prosecutor Achim von Engel described the case as a "particularly grave case of tax evasion", calling for five and a half years in prison.

The Guardian - Sport

Walsh and Pearl head into the future, but part of their future's relative brightness rests on her apparent whiteness, a moral conundrum that afflicts her with a grave case of that twentieth-century complaint, liberal guilt.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grave cases", ensure the context clearly indicates the severity and potential consequences involved. This phrase is best suited for situations requiring serious attention and action.

Common error

Avoid using "grave cases" to describe minor or trivial issues. This phrase should be reserved for scenarios where the seriousness is genuinely high, maintaining its impact and preventing dilution of its meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grave cases" functions as a noun phrase, where "grave" modifies the noun "cases", indicating that the cases are of significant seriousness. Ludwig AI shows that it is commonly used to describe serious or critical situations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "grave cases" is a grammatically sound and relatively uncommon expression used to describe situations of considerable seriousness or critical importance. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English and is most frequently found in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts. When using the phrase, remember to ensure the context warrants such a serious tone, as overuse in milder situations can dilute its impact. Alternatives such as "serious situations" or "critical incidents" may be more appropriate depending on the degree of severity you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serious situations

This alternative replaces "grave" with "serious", focusing on the severity of the situations.

critical instances

This alternative substitutes "grave" with "critical" and "cases" with "instances", highlighting the decisiveness and importance of the situations.

severe circumstances

This alternative uses "severe" instead of "grave" and "circumstances" in place of "cases", emphasizing the harsh conditions involved.

dire situations

This alternative replaces "grave" with "dire", stressing the urgency and potential for negative outcomes.

urgent matters

This alternative uses "urgent" to denote the need for immediate attention and "matters" to refer to the issues at hand.

pressing issues

This alternative focuses on the immediacy and importance of the problems or topics.

acute problems

This alternative highlights the intensity and sudden onset of the issues involved.

critical incidents

This alternative underscores the importance and potential impact of specific events.

major crises

This alternative emphasizes the scale and disruptive nature of the situations.

significant events

This alternative highlights the importance and potential consequences of the events.

FAQs

How can I use "grave cases" in a sentence?

You can use "grave cases" to refer to situations involving serious misconduct, critical health conditions, or severe legal matters. For example: "The committee will review "grave cases" of ethical violations within the organization".

What are some alternatives to "grave cases"?

Alternatives include "serious situations", "critical incidents", or "severe circumstances", depending on the specific context you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "grave cases" in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "grave cases" is more suitable for formal or professional contexts due to its serious and weighty tone. In informal writing, consider using simpler alternatives like "serious problems".

What distinguishes "grave cases" from "serious cases"?

"Grave cases" implies a higher degree of severity and potential consequences than "serious cases". "Grave" suggests a situation that is deeply concerning and possibly life-altering.