gravely serious

USAGE SUMMARY

"gravely serious" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to emphasize the severity of a situation, indicating it is a matter of grave seriousness. For example: "The consequences of this mistake were gravely serious."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

All in all, it is a gravely serious matter.

The New York Times

Marlon Anderson, his face gravely serious, said: "Baseball field's a dangerous place, Jay.

The New York Times - Sports

Boxing is a gravely serious business at Lord's, where everything looks battered, not just some of the faces.

The New York Times

The Home Secretary, Theresa May, is among those who have provided a reminder that any threat to the anonymity of Evans' rape victim is a gravely serious offence.

Independent

But "I Remember Nothing" does at times give us more depth and gravity and an actual, almost gravely serious reflection on divorce, duplicity, disease.

The New York Times - Books

Perhaps to prove otherwise, she promptly starred in the national tour of "The Miracle Worker , as Helen Keller's gravely serious teacher, Annie Sullivan.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

The administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, Rajiv Shah, said in another statement last week that the United States was "gravely concerned by the serious escalation of the humanitarian crisis in Pibor County in South Sudan's Jonglei State" as a result of the violence there.

The New York Times

Cindy Torres, 59, who has had a realty office here for 20 years, suggested, "Why not have a mayoral proclamation making Blue a coyote?" ("I'm serious," she said gravely afterward).

The New York Times

"Over the past few years, in several countries, the major superiors of the Legion of Christ have received some allegations of gravely immoral acts and more serious offences... committed by some legionaries," AP quoted the statement as saying.

BBC

David Milton was courtin' Abby Rockefeller, Jazz was regarded as respectable, and serious musicians discussed Gershwin gravely.

The New Yorker

Asked if the Florida Legislature might provoke a constitutional crisis if it named its own slate of electors, even if the tallying of ballots was unresolved, Mr. Christopher answered gravely: "That would certainly be a serious mistake on their part.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gravely serious" when you want to emphasize the profound and deeply concerning nature of a situation, especially in formal or professional contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "gravely serious" in casual conversations or informal writing, as it can sound overly dramatic or pretentious. Opt for simpler alternatives like "very serious" or "really important" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gravely serious" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to emphasize the extreme significance or severity of a situation. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gravely serious" is a valid and impactful way to express the severity of a situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently used, especially in news and media. While highly effective in formal contexts, it's advisable to use simpler alternatives in casual settings. Understanding its function as a compound adjective and its purpose of conveying urgency is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely serious

Emphasizes the high degree of seriousness.

critically important

Highlights the importance and potential consequences.

of utmost importance

Stresses the supreme importance of the matter.

deeply concerning

Focuses on the worrying and troubling aspect of the situation.

alarmingly dangerous

Emphasizes the dangerous and potentially harmful nature.

profoundly significant

Highlights the far-reaching consequences and importance.

highly critical

Similar to critically important, but with a slightly more urgent tone.

of grave concern

Uses 'grave' as a synonym to indicate deep worry.

momentous and serious

Adds a sense of historical importance to the seriousness.

weighty matter

Implies the issue is heavy and laden with consequence.

FAQs

How to use "gravely serious" in a sentence?

You can use "gravely serious" to describe situations, issues, or concerns that are extremely important and potentially dangerous. For example, "The consequences of climate change are "gravely serious"".

What can I say instead of "gravely serious"?

You can use alternatives like "extremely serious", "critically important", or "of utmost importance" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "gravely serious" or "very gravely serious"?

"Gravely serious" is the standard and more common phrasing. Adding "very" before "gravely" is redundant because "gravely" already intensifies "serious".

What's the difference between "gravely serious" and "serious"?

"Gravely serious" emphasizes a higher degree of severity and concern compared to simply "serious". "Gravely serious" implies the situation is exceptionally critical and requires immediate attention.