grave offense

USAGE SUMMARY

"grave offense" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a serious or severe crime. For example, "The judge sentenced him to five years in prison for the grave offense of armed robbery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

A petition against the plans said the "grossly offensive" name choice "constitutes a grave offense to the African descent communities in London and elsewhere".

Vice

"It is a grave offense to our Catholic population".

The New York Times

Designers scrambled, fashion journalists pondered its deeper meaning and local officials took grave offense.

The New York Times

In Islam, insulting the Prophet Muhammad is a grave offense, and worshiping idols is prohibited.

The New York Times

In all countries it is considered a grave offense punishable by a long prison sentence or death.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Russian government had warned publicly that moving it would be a grave offense to history and "disastrous for Estonians".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

Stupefyingly, the new Vatican document also links raping children with ordaining women as priests, deeming both "graviora delicta," or grave offenses.

The New York Times

Prosecutors say that Lord Ashdown's testimony is crucial because it showed that Mr. Milosevic on this occasion was warned that his troops were committing grave offenses.

The New York Times

With the additional funds from the fellowship, Simon expanded the scope of her project, traveling the country and photographing people who had been erroneously found guilty of various grave offenses and later proven innocent.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Scientific misconduct is generally understood to connote grave offenses like fraud or plagiarism, but only three of Harvard's charges were about published articles, and two of these concerned nothing more serious than missing data.

The New York Times - Science

A dowry used in this way is actually a conditional gift that is supposed to be restored to the wife or her family if the husband divorces, abuses, or commits other grave offenses against her.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grave offense", ensure the context aligns with the severity of the action being described. Reserve it for situations involving significant moral, ethical, or legal breaches.

Common error

Avoid using "grave offense" for minor infractions or disagreements. Its impact is diluted if applied to trivial matters. Instead, consider using phrases like "minor offense" or "simple mistake" for less severe situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grave offense" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the object of a verb or preposition, identifying a specific instance of serious wrongdoing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grave offense" is a noun phrase used to describe a serious wrongdoing, often in legal, ethical, or moral contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is most frequently encountered in news and media, encyclopedias, and scientific sources, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure the context matches the severity it implies, avoiding overuse in trivial situations. Alternatives include "serious transgression" and "heinous crime", depending on the specific nuance required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serious transgression

Replaces "offense" with a more formal term and "grave" with a synonym indicating severity.

major violation

Focuses on the act of breaking a rule or law in a significant way.

severe infraction

Uses a less common synonym for "offense" emphasizing the seriousness of the breach.

heinous crime

Replaces "offense" with "crime", suggesting a more serious legal context.

grievous wrong

Emphasizes the harm caused by the offense, rather than the breaking of a rule.

capital crime

Highlights that the offense could be punishable by death.

significant breach

Indicates a considerable failure to adhere to standards or expectations.

critical misdeed

Emphasizes the negative impact and importance of the wrongful action.

substantial wrongdoing

Focuses on the unethical or illegal nature of the action.

major felony

Highlights the categorization of the offence as a high-level criminal act.

FAQs

How to use "grave offense" in a sentence?

Use "grave offense" to describe a very serious wrongdoing. For example, "Plagiarism is considered a "grave offense" in academic settings and can result in expulsion".

What can I say instead of "grave offense"?

You can use alternatives like "serious transgression", "major violation", or "heinous crime" depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

Which is correct, "grave offense" or "serious offense"?

"Grave offense" and "serious offense" are both correct, but ""grave offense"" implies a higher degree of severity and moral reprehensibility than "serious offense".

What's the difference between "grave offense" and "grievous offense"?

While both phrases denote a serious wrong, ""grave offense"" focuses on the severity of the breach of rules or laws, while "grievous offense" emphasizes the suffering or harm caused by the wrongdoing.