gross shortcomings

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gross shortcomings" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe significant or severe deficiencies in something, such as a plan, performance, or product. Example: "The report highlighted the gross shortcomings in the company's safety protocols, which need immediate attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Gross shortcomings in basic medical safety protocols emerged with the death of Alexei Cherepanov in 2008, and air safety issues in 2011 with the plane crash that killed the Lokomotiv team.

The New York Times

Tropic Moon III was envisioned as an SCNA that made up for the gross shortcomings of Tropic Moon I and II.

Wikipedia

For example, if a sperm bank promises donors or families a limit of 10 or 20 children per donor, revelations that the actual number is in many cases considerably higher (in one known example, around 200) would shed light on the gross shortcomings of their record keeping.

Huffington Post

For example, if a sperm bank promises donors or families a limit of 10 or 20 children per donor, revelations that the actual number in many cases is considerably higher (for example, 50, 150, or 200 children) would expose the gross shortcomings of their record keeping and their honesty.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

This is due to his insight that "subtlety of investigation" is needed, since our senses are too gross for the complexity and fineness of nature, so that method has to compensate for the shortcomings of our direct comprehension.

SEP

Any shortcomings?

The New York Times

Shortcomings remain.

The New York Times

Really gross".

The New York Times - Sports

Forget gross.

The New Yorker

"There are many shortcomings.

The New York Times

But shortcomings remain.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gross shortcomings", ensure the context clearly indicates that the deficiencies are significant and have a substantial impact. Avoid using it for minor or trivial issues.

Common error

Avoid using "gross shortcomings" when describing minor issues or areas for improvement. The term implies a severe deficiency, so reserve it for situations where the flaws are truly substantial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gross shortcomings" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "gross" modifies the noun "shortcomings". It describes the magnitude or severity of deficiencies. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and denotes significant flaws.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gross shortcomings" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe significant deficiencies. As Ludwig AI pointed out, this phrase is usable in written English. While relatively uncommon, its primary function is to highlight notable flaws. It frequently appears in news and media contexts, as well as scientific and encyclopedic texts, indicating a neutral register. Remember to use this phrase when emphasizing the severity of deficiencies, and consider alternatives like "major deficiencies" or "serious flaws" for nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major deficiencies

Replaces "shortcomings" with "deficiencies" and "gross" with "major", emphasizing the severity of the flaws.

serious flaws

Substitutes "shortcomings" with "flaws" and "gross" with "serious", indicating significant imperfections.

significant inadequacies

Uses "inadequacies" instead of "shortcomings" and "significant" in place of "gross", denoting substantial insufficiencies.

substantial defects

Replaces "shortcomings" with "defects" and "gross" with "substantial", suggesting considerable imperfections.

glaring omissions

Shifts the focus to what is missing, using "omissions" and highlighting their obvious nature with "glaring".

evident limitations

Emphasizes the restrictions present, using "limitations" and indicating their clear visibility with "evident".

palpable weaknesses

Highlights the vulnerability of the subject, substituting "shortcomings" with "weaknesses" and underscoring their tangibility with "palpable".

noticeable faults

Focuses on the imperfections, replacing "shortcomings" with "faults" and emphasizing their clear visibility with "noticeable".

marked imperfections

Uses "imperfections" instead of "shortcomings" and "marked" in place of "gross", denoting clearly visible flaws.

critical vulnerabilities

Highlights the potential for harm, substituting "shortcomings" with "vulnerabilities" and emphasizing their importance with "critical".

FAQs

What does "gross shortcomings" mean?

The phrase "gross shortcomings" refers to significant or severe deficiencies or flaws in something.

What can I say instead of "gross shortcomings"?

You can use alternatives like "major deficiencies", "serious flaws", or "significant inadequacies" depending on the context.

How to use "gross shortcomings" in a sentence?

Example: "The investigation revealed "gross shortcomings" in the safety protocols, leading to the accident."

What's the difference between "gross shortcomings" and "minor flaws"?

"Gross shortcomings" implies significant and impactful deficiencies, while "minor flaws" refers to small, less consequential imperfections.