grave potential

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grave potential" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or issue that has serious or significant risks or consequences. Example: "The new policy has grave potential to impact the economy negatively if not carefully implemented."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The risk of improbable, uncertain, but grave potential dangers poses unique adaptive challenges.

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

This has grave potential consequences for the stability of the Middle East.

The New York Times

Then again, the habitually urbane Ken Clarke is just one of the senior politicians recognising a "grave, grave potential crisis".

The Guardian - Opinion

The British-American plan to lift economic sanctions on Iraq in exchange for a strict arms embargo and resumption of international inspections must anticipate two grave potential problems.

The New York Times

The trick was to find a malady with such grave potential that even changing into Dunlop green flash plimsolls might exacerbate it.

Independent

The surprise in this 5-to-4 decision was less the outcome than the lineup, with Justice David H. Souter deserting his usual allies to write the majority opinion and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor warning in dissent that the decision carried "a grave potential for abuse".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Yet it is in Hungary of all places – where there are no aggravating issues of immigration or language – that the gypsies, and the way society deals with them, pose the gravest potential threats to the nation's future.

Independent

The latter configuration, of the same class of weapon as the American-made Stinger, is considered the gravest potential danger to civilian aircraft because the weapon is readily portable and relatively simple to conceal and use.

The New York Times

These reactions aren't uncommon and can be a nuisance, but there are graver potential side effects.

Huffington Post

As Manning faces far graver potential consequences -- a virtual life sentence in military prison -- his defense team has focused in the sentencing phase on appealing to the judge's sense of compassion, rather than building an argument that he was acting as a whistle-blower in the public interest.

Huffington Post

"While the allegations are serious, and indicate potential grave misconduct, there is as yet no information or evidence to support them and the fact that the maker of the allegations is unwilling to talk to anyone in a position to investigate them means that their credibility cannot properly be assessed at this stage".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grave potential", ensure the context clearly establishes what specific negative outcome is being discussed to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify "grave potential for economic disruption" rather than just "grave potential".

Common error

Avoid using "grave potential" in situations where the potential consequences are only mildly negative or speculative. Reserve this phrase for scenarios involving significant, substantiated dangers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grave potential" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "grave" modifies the noun "potential". It describes a serious or significant possibility of something negative happening, indicating a high degree of concern or risk.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

20%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grave potential" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a serious or significant possibility of negative consequences. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of the phrase, highlighting its common usage in News & Media, Science, and Wiki contexts. When using "grave potential", consider its formal register and be clear about the specific negative outcomes you're referencing. Alternatives like "serious possibility" or "significant risk" can be used depending on the desired emphasis. The phrase is found in authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian, indicating its reliability in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serious possibility

Emphasizes the likelihood of a negative outcome, shifting focus from potential impact to probability.

significant risk

Highlights the danger aspect, replacing "potential" with a more direct term for negative consequences.

critical prospect

Emphasizes the importance of what might happen, suggesting a turning point or decisive event.

dire likelihood

Focuses on a pessimistic view of events.

alarming possibility

Highlights the cause for concern, emphasizing the disturbing nature of the potential outcome.

severe danger

Directly points out to the level of risk and danger.

major threat

Emphasizes the magnitude of the danger.

considerable peril

Indicates a notable degree of hazard, using a more formal term for danger.

substantial hazard

Highlights the size and impact of the hazard.

extreme vulnerability

Highlights the fragile state of a situation.

FAQs

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

Use "grave potential" to describe situations or issues that carry significant risks or serious consequences. For example, "The lack of regulation has a "grave potential" to harm consumers."

What are some alternatives to "grave potential"?

You can use alternatives like "serious possibility", "significant risk", or "critical prospect" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "grave potential" or "serious potential"?

"Grave potential" implies a higher degree of severity compared to "serious potential". Use "grave" when emphasizing the dire nature of possible outcomes.

What does "grave potential" mean in the context of political discussions?

In political discussions, "grave potential" is used to highlight the severe and far-reaching consequences that a policy or action might have on society, the economy, or international relations.