harsh judgements

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harsh judgements" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing critical evaluations or assessments that are severe or unforgiving in nature. Example: "The critics were known for their harsh judgements, often leaving little room for improvement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

God is also very popular excuse for not just skipping out on the tip, but also for doling out moral advice and harsh judgements.

The Guardian - Opinion

We looked at each other with empathy and caring, it was a momentary relief from the harsh judgements of an often cruel world.

University of California, Berkeley

The constantly changing "leaders" in the blogosphere set rules, with followers then absorbing, rejecting or reformulating their endorsements or harsh judgements.

The New York Times

Do hard lives always lead to harsh judgements?

Johns Hopkins University

Moreover, as I suggested in my paper, they also tend to reproduce harsh judgements about the deservingness of immigrants, which is a fundamental obstacle to inclusive solidarity.

Comparative Migration Studies

Keane, who released his own autobiography in 2002, says such harsh judgements are unfair given the success and trophies he and his fellow players brought the club under Ferguson.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The harsh judgement will dismay the current commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe.

The Guardian

The National Audit Office has passed a harsh judgement on government plans for high-speed rail.

Independent

But, by sharing the ring with one and not dismissing the possibility of also engaging the other, Haye has avoided an extremely harsh judgement.

Independent

Those who doubt the harsh judgement which the voters mete out to parties which fail to heed this lesson should not only recall how the British people treated the ossification of the Tory party in the 1990s.

The Guardian - Opinion

This ungenerous view of the Restoration theatre is echoed in Mahmoud Al-Shetawi's harsh judgement of early Arab Shakespeare: 'Overall, the early stage productions of Hamlet were crude, vulgarizing Shakespeare's masterpiece in order to please the illiterate audience' (Shetawi, p. 46).

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "harsh judgements" to describe situations where the evaluation is perceived as unfair or overly critical.

Common error

Avoid using "harsh judgements" as a standalone statement without providing context or justification. This can make the assessment seem arbitrary and undermine its credibility. Provide concrete examples or reasoning to support the evaluation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harsh judgements" functions as a noun phrase, where 'harsh' modifies the noun 'judgements'. It typically acts as the object of a verb or preposition, describing the nature of evaluations or criticisms. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "harsh judgements" is a grammatically sound and relatively uncommon expression used to denote severe or critical evaluations. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is valid and usable. Its primary function is to express strong disapproval or criticism across various registers, particularly in news, academic and scientific contexts. While it can add emphasis, it's essential to provide context and justification to avoid appearing arbitrary. Consider alternatives like "severe criticism" or "critical assessments" to fine-tune your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harsh condemnations

This focuses on the act of strong disapproval or denunciation. The word "condemnations" replacing "judgements".

severe criticism

This alternative replaces the word "judgements" with "criticism", highlighting the act of expressing disapproval.

stern disapproval

This phrase uses "stern" to emphasize the severity and "disapproval" to focus on the negative sentiment.

critical assessments

This alternative uses "assessments" instead of "judgements", framing it as an evaluation process, and "critical" highlights the negative aspect.

unfavorable opinions

This phrase replaces "judgements" with "opinions" to denote personal views, while "unfavorable" indicates a negative perspective.

negative evaluations

This alternative uses "evaluations", suggesting a formal appraisal, and "negative" to emphasize the unfavorable outcome.

severe condemnations

This emphasizes the expression of strong disapproval, replacing "judgements" with a stronger term, "condemnations".

bitter criticisms

The word "bitter" adds an element of resentment or strong negative emotion to the criticism.

strict appraisals

This alternative uses "strict" to convey the idea of rigorous and demanding evaluations.

damning verdicts

Replaces "judgements" with "verdicts" to imply a formal decision, "damning" heightens the severity of the judgement.

FAQs

How can I use "harsh judgements" in a sentence?

You can use "harsh judgements" to describe severe criticisms or evaluations. For example: "The film received "harsh judgements" from critics due to its poor plot and acting."

What are some alternatives to "harsh judgements"?

Some alternatives include "severe criticism", "stern disapproval", or "critical assessments", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "harsh judgements"?

It's appropriate to use "harsh judgements" when you want to emphasize the severity or unfairness of an evaluation or criticism. Ensure the context justifies the use of such a strong term.

What is the difference between "harsh judgements" and "fair criticism"?

"Harsh judgements" implies a severe and potentially unfair evaluation, while "fair criticism" suggests an objective and balanced assessment. The key difference lies in the perceived justness and proportionality of the evaluation.