hasty steps

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hasty steps" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions taken quickly or without careful consideration, often implying a sense of urgency or recklessness. Example: "In his hasty steps to finalize the project, he overlooked several important details."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

This would mean "uncalculated and hasty steps, including lots of irrationalities".

The Guardian

"And we want to avoid that — meaning uncalculated and hasty steps that produce more irrationality," he said, according to the official news agency.

The New York Times

Mr. Zetsche said that Chrysler would not take any hasty steps to close factories permanently, because it is very hard to switch the production of a vehicle from one factory to another.

The New York Times

12. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX opined that the PM and Sonia Gandhi do not want to take any hasty steps against Pakistan, so there is unlikely to be any troop build up along the borders.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Because of the hasty pace, the promo was not screened by the network's broadcast operations control department in New York, a typical step to avoid problems like Monday's.

The New York Times

He warned against "irresponsible, hasty and populist steps" which could destabilise Israel's economy, but added: "All of us, myself first and foremost... [are] aware of the genuine hardship of the cost-of-living in Israel".

The Guardian

On Friday, Mr Lavrov warned the US not to take "hasty and reckless steps" in response to the crisis in Crimea.

BBC

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned the US not to take "hasty and reckless steps" in response to the crisis in Ukraine's Crimea region.

BBC

In their telephone conversation on Friday, Mr Lavrov warned Mr Kerry against taking "hasty and unthought-through steps capable of causing harm to Russian-US relations", Russia's foreign ministry reports.

BBC

Step in Hasty, a new bootstrapped startup which is starting in San Francicso first but hopes to expand in the US and internationally.

TechCrunch

If you fail to be quick enough, you'll face the error once again and have to start over, so be hasty in doing this step.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing sensitive negotiations or strategic planning, use "hasty steps" to caution against acting impulsively, which could lead to unforeseen negative outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "hasty steps" when the intention is to praise efficiency. "Hasty steps" usually implies a negative consequence due to lack of consideration, so use "efficient processes" or "streamlined procedures" instead when praising speed and effectiveness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hasty steps" functions primarily as a noun phrase modified by an adjective. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes actions taken quickly and often without careful consideration. The adjective "hasty" attributes a quality of speed and potential recklessness to the noun "steps".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hasty steps" is a phrase used to describe actions taken quickly and without careful consideration, as validated by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically correct and primarily appears in News & Media contexts. While the phrase is relatively infrequent, using it effectively means understanding its implication of potential recklessness or lack of planning. When writing, be mindful of the context and use it to caution against impulsivity. To avoid misinterpretations, replace it with more neutral phrases like "quick decisions" when simply describing speed. Remember to avoid using "hasty steps" when the aim is to praise efficiency. By being conscious of its connotation, you can use this phrase with precision to convey your intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hasty measures

A direct synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

rash actions

Focuses on the recklessness and impulsivity of the actions.

reckless moves

Emphasizes the disregard for potential consequences.

ill-considered measures

Emphasizes the lack of careful thought or planning.

imprudent decisions

Highlights the lack of wisdom or good judgment.

precipitate actions

Implies acting with undue haste and suddenness.

uncalculated moves

Stresses the absence of careful calculation or strategy.

quick decisions

A more neutral alternative, simply indicating speed.

impulsive acts

Highlights the spontaneous and unreflective nature of the actions.

unwarranted initiatives

Suggests the actions are not justified or necessary.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "hasty steps" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, you can replace "hasty steps" with phrases like "ill-considered measures" or "imprudent decisions" to emphasize the lack of careful thought. Alternatively, "precipitate actions" might also fit.

What does "hasty steps" imply about the actions taken?

"Hasty steps" suggests that the actions were taken quickly and without sufficient consideration, potentially leading to negative outcomes or errors. It implies a lack of prudence and forethought.

When is it appropriate to use "hasty steps" in writing?

Use "hasty steps" when you want to criticize or caution against actions that are taken too quickly, without proper planning or assessment of risks. It is suitable in contexts where careful deliberation is expected.

What is a neutral alternative to "hasty steps" that doesn't imply criticism?

If you want to describe quick actions without implying a negative judgment, you can use phrases like "quick decisions" or "rapid actions". These alternatives simply indicate speed without suggesting a lack of consideration.