grave flaw

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grave flaw" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a serious or significant defect or error in something, such as a plan, argument, or product. Example: "The report was dismissed due to a grave flaw in its methodology that undermined its conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In contrast another, genuinely grave, flaw is entirely his own fault.

The Economist

The law contained one grave flaw, a supposedly independent Joint Commission on Public Ethics that is made up entirely of political appointees.

The New York Times

"I understand why they don't want an amendment, because it would reveal the grave flaw," Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass).

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

His case revealed grave flaws in Belgian policing.

The Economist

That act, signed by President Reagan, had grave flaws.

The New Yorker

Also today, monitors from the Organization of American States said they had found grave flaws in the vote-counting software and were suspending cooperation with Peruvian elections officials.

The New York Times

Moore said there were "grave flaws" in Alabama's sentencing system when a person could be sentenced to life without parole for a non-violent drug offense.

The Guardian

At her appeal, Bosch's British barrister, Desmond de Silva, argued that there were grave flaws in the conduct of the original trial.

The Guardian

The plea agreement by the defendant, Nada Nadim Prouty, appeared to expose grave flaws in the methods used by the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conduct background checks on its investigators.

The New York Times

BOOTHBAY HARBOR, MAINE — A stunning idea has entered respectable American discourse of late: that China is not just an economic rival but also a political competitor, with a political system that, despite its own flaws, reveals grave flaws in American democracy and might be inspiring to wavering nations.

The New York Times

The company had a staff of some thirteen hundred engineers, but it was overwhelmed by demands on its time, and crash investigators discovered that those in charge of the signal performed only a "lax" inspection, which "failed to discover grave flaws and major hidden dangers".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grave flaw", ensure the context clearly establishes the seriousness of the problem. The phrase is most effective when emphasizing a critical issue that could have significant negative consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "grave flaw" for minor imperfections or subjective dislikes. The phrase should be reserved for objectively serious issues to maintain credibility and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grave flaw" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "grave" modifies the noun "flaw". It describes a serious or significant defect. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grave flaw" describes a serious and significant defect. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, and the available examples, primarily from News & Media, highlight its application in describing critical issues. While grammatically sound, it's best reserved for formal contexts where the gravity of a problem warrants emphasis. Related phrases include "serious defect" and "critical error". When using this phrase, ensure the context justifies its strong connotation. The absence of over usage from sources like academia makes it important to think of the context of the usage. Therefore, do not use "grave flaw" for minor imperfections.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serious defect

Replaces "flaw" with "defect" and "grave" with "serious", highlighting the severity of the imperfection.

critical error

Emphasizes the mistake aspect of the "flaw" and uses "critical" to denote the significance.

major shortcoming

Uses "shortcoming" instead of "flaw", focusing on the deficiency and "major" to indicate seriousness.

significant weakness

Substitutes "flaw" with "weakness", altering the focus to vulnerability and using "significant" to maintain the gravity.

fundamental problem

Replaces "flaw" with "problem", highlighting the issue and using "fundamental" to emphasize its deep-rooted nature.

fatal imperfection

Uses "imperfection" instead of "flaw", focusing on the lack of perfection and "fatal" to denote seriousness.

deep-seated fault

Substitutes "flaw" with "fault", and "grave" with "deep-seated" focusing on origin and root cause.

severe inadequacy

Replaces "flaw" with "inadequacy", changing the focus to the lack of something and "severe" to maintain the gravity.

substantial defect

Replaces "grave" with "substantial" and keeps "defect" to maintain a similar degree of formality while varying the specific terminology.

glaring omission

Uses "omission" instead of "flaw", highlighting what is missing or left out, and "glaring" to emphasize its obviousness.

FAQs

What does "grave flaw" mean?

A "grave flaw" refers to a very serious and significant defect, fault, or problem.

What are some synonyms for "grave flaw"?

You can use alternatives such as "serious defect", "critical error", or "major shortcoming" depending on the specific context.

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

While grammatically correct, "grave flaw" is more suited for formal or serious contexts. In informal settings, simpler terms like "big problem" or "major issue" might be more appropriate.

How does a "grave flaw" differ from a regular flaw?

A "grave flaw" implies a significantly greater level of severity and potential impact compared to a regular flaw. It suggests a critical issue that needs immediate attention.