grave irregularities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grave irregularities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where serious or significant deviations from expected standards or norms are being discussed, often in legal, financial, or procedural matters. Example: "The audit revealed grave irregularities in the financial statements that could lead to severe consequences for the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"It would be a sad day if these grave irregularities can be ignored," said George Oraro, Mr. Odinga's lawyer.

The New York Times

International monitors have spoken of grave irregularities and even possible fraud but have not said that the vote should be nullified.

The New York Times

On Friday, a group of retired generals calling themselves the Institutional Military Front issued a declaration condemning "grave irregularities" and warning of the possibility of unrest afterward.

The New York Times

Whatever view is taken of the evidence and there will always be those who believe that Ms Knox and her former boyfriend were angel-faced killers the investigation was marked by grave irregularities.

The Economist

Elections in PNG are often turbulent, characterised by grave irregularities and violence, but they rather than the courts—surely offer the best path to establishing who should form the next government.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Last month, the Portuguese Finance Ministry ordered an investigation of Madeira's accounts after unearthing what it called "a grave irregularity" — €1.1 billion, or $1.5 billion, of debt that had been accumulated since 2008 but not accounted for.

The New York Times

Mauricio Rodriguez, president of the Constitutional Court, said the irregularities amounted to "a grave violation of democratic principles".

Huffington Post

The grave.

The New Yorker

"We found no irregularities.

The New York Times

Yet irregularities are widespread.

The New York Times

"Financial irregularities" were discovered.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grave irregularities", ensure the context involves a situation where the deviations from expected standards are severe and potentially impactful, such as in legal, financial, or election-related scenarios.

Common error

Avoid using "grave irregularities" in contexts where the issues are minor or easily rectifiable. The term implies a significant level of severity; using it inappropriately can diminish its impact when describing truly serious situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grave irregularities" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "grave" modifies the noun "irregularities". As noted by Ludwig AI, it denotes serious deviations from what is considered standard or acceptable. This is used to describe issues found, for example, during an investigation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grave irregularities" is a phrase used to describe significant deviations from established norms or standards, especially in legal, financial, or procedural contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is most frequently found in News & Media sources, and its use implies a serious situation requiring attention. When using the phrase, it is important to ensure that the context warrants the gravity it conveys. Consider alternatives like "serious anomalies" or "major discrepancies" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serious anomalies

This alternative replaces "irregularities" with "anomalies", which emphasizes the deviation from the norm.

major discrepancies

This alternative uses "discrepancies" to highlight the inconsistencies or disagreements found.

significant violations

This phrase replaces "irregularities" with "violations", focusing on breaches of rules or laws.

severe improprieties

This alternative uses "improprieties" to suggest unethical or inappropriate behavior.

substantial errors

This phrase emphasizes the presence of significant mistakes or inaccuracies.

critical flaws

This alternative highlights fundamental weaknesses or faults in a system or process.

egregious errors

Using "egregious" emphasizes the shocking or conspicuously bad nature of the errors.

gross misconduct

This alternative focuses on unacceptable and improper behavior, often in a professional setting.

flagrant abuses

This phrase emphasizes the blatant and offensive misuse of power or authority.

palpable deviations

This option highlights the obvious and easily noticeable nature of the departures from the norm.

FAQs

How to use "grave irregularities" in a sentence?

You can use "grave irregularities" to describe serious deviations from established norms, often in formal settings like elections or audits. For instance, "The investigation uncovered "grave irregularities" in the voting process".

What can I say instead of "grave irregularities"?

Alternatives include "serious anomalies", "major discrepancies", or "significant violations", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "grave irregularities" or "serious irregularity"?

"Grave irregularities" refers to multiple serious deviations, while "serious irregularity" refers to a single, significant deviation. The correct choice depends on whether you're describing one or more issues.

What's the difference between "grave irregularities" and "minor errors"?

"Grave irregularities" implies severe and impactful deviations from the norm, often with legal or ethical implications. "Minor errors", on the other hand, refers to small, insignificant mistakes that do not significantly affect outcomes or processes.