gross flaws

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gross flaws" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe significant or serious defects or shortcomings in something, such as a product, plan, or argument. Example: "The report was filled with gross flaws that undermined its credibility and effectiveness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

In the resulting image, bright spots show where a lot of switching has taken place, and dark spots indicate where the circuits have been stable throughout.This technique can show gross flaws.

The Economist

New Jersey residents poor and rich, Democrat and Republican possess the gift of ignoring gross flaws.

Vice

In "A Pyrrhic Victory," the smallest gesture reveals gross flaws in a young girl's character, flaws she seems destined never to outgrow.

Los Angeles Times

He's not the only one who was unhappy with the case that Serial built: In interviews with the original prosecutor, Natasha Vargas-Cooper and Ken Silverstein of the Intercept have essentially argued that for all its gross flaws, the American criminal justice system nabbed the right man.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It wasn't some gross, egregious flaw in his game that was going to compound itself.

The New York Times - Sports

Every superhero or larger-than-life figure has a gross flaw; with Brown, it is his brutal treatment of women.

The New York Times - Sports

On top of this, many "pop science" books have flaws or gross simplifications.

Huffington Post

Make sure you have no flaws, such as something gross in your teeth or a strand of hair out of place.

WikiHow

Among those critical of the use of this theory, Whitsett and Winslow suggested that many investigations were characterized by methodological flaws, misrepresentation of results and gross misunderstanding of the theory [ 21].

BMC Medical Education

Because of the chipset design flaw, Intel said it will take a charge that will reduce its fourth quarter 2010 gross profit margins by around 4 percentage points from the 67.5 percent it previously reported.

The New York Times - Tech

By considering gross income (before taxes are taken off and tax credits/benefits added on), it finds that the calculation is flawed, but happens to be about the same as if they had done it correctly.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gross flaws", ensure the context makes it clear that you're referring to significant and unacceptable imperfections, rather than simply large or obvious ones. The term implies a severe negative judgment.

Common error

Avoid using "gross flaws" when the issues are minor or easily fixable. The term carries a strong negative connotation and should be reserved for truly significant and detrimental issues.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gross flaws" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "gross" modifies the noun "flaws". It describes the significant or unacceptable nature of the defects. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in describing serious defects.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gross flaws" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, typically employed to denote significant and unacceptable defects or shortcomings. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. While not extremely common, it appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Economist, often in contexts that require a critical or analytical tone. When using this phrase, ensure that the context warrants such strong language, reserving it for instances where the flaws are indeed substantial and detrimental. Alternatives such as "major defects" or "serious shortcomings" may be more appropriate in less severe cases. The term is most frequently found in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major defects

Replaces "gross" with "major", indicating significant rather than repulsive defects.

serious shortcomings

Uses "serious" instead of "gross", and "shortcomings" for "flaws", conveying the gravity of the defects.

significant defects

Replaces "gross" with "significant", focusing on the importance of the defects.

glaring imperfections

Uses "glaring" to emphasize the obviousness of the "imperfections", highlighting their visibility.

severe deficiencies

Substitutes "gross" with "severe" and "flaws" with "deficiencies", stressing the intensity of the lack.

critical vulnerabilities

Replaces "flaws" with "vulnerabilities", which indicates weaknesses that can be exploited, especially in systems or plans.

substantial errors

Uses "substantial" for "gross" and "errors" for "flaws", focusing on the considerable mistakes present.

major faults

Similar to "major defects", but uses "faults" to indicate responsibility or blame.

obvious weaknesses

Highlights the clarity and recognizability of the flaws, focusing on aspects that are easily seen.

fundamental problems

Emphasizes that the flaws are basic and affect the foundation of something.

FAQs

How can I use "gross flaws" in a sentence?

You can use "gross flaws" to describe significant defects or shortcomings, as in, "The project proposal contained "gross flaws" that made it unacceptable."

What are some alternatives to "gross flaws"?

Alternatives include "major defects", "serious shortcomings", or "significant defects", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "gross flaws"?

It is appropriate to use "gross flaws" when you want to emphasize that the flaws are not only significant but also unacceptable and have a major negative impact.

Is "gross flaws" a formal or informal expression?

"Gross flaws" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it is generally more common in formal writing or speech where a more critical tone is appropriate.