heavy casualties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "heavy casualties" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when there are large numbers of casualties, or when the casualties are especially severe or damaging. For example, "The battle resulted in heavy casualties on both sides."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Heavy casualties.

The Guardian

Heavy casualties were reported.

The Economist

"Heavy casualties on both sides.

The New Yorker

The peacekeepers took heavy casualties.

The New York Times

Insurgents are prepared to bear heavy casualties.

The Economist

Cornwallis won but suffered heavy casualties.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There followed some years of brutal conflict, with heavy casualties.

Independent

Isis suffers heavy casualties when it tries to do so.

Independent

The subheadings printed: "Heavy casualties on both sides".

The Guardian - Books

Despite suffering heavy casualties, Company G reached its objective.

The New York Times

The Irish Division suffered heavy casualties, with 538 dead.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heavy casualties" to clearly and concisely indicate a large number of injuries or deaths resulting from a single event or series of events. This phrase is most effective when you want to convey the scale and severity of the human cost.

Common error

Avoid using "heavy casualties" to describe situations with only a few injuries or minor damages. This exaggerates the situation and diminishes the impact when describing truly large-scale events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heavy casualties" functions as a noun phrase, where "heavy" modifies "casualties" to indicate a significant number of people injured or killed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. The examples illustrate its usage in various contexts, from war reports to disaster descriptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Wiki

33%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "heavy casualties" is a grammatically sound and widely recognized way to describe situations with a significant number of injuries or deaths. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and common usage. Analysis of the provided examples reveals its prevalence in News & Media, Wiki, and Encyclopedic contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the scale of the event to avoid misrepresentation. Alternatives like "high death toll" or "significant losses" can be considered depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

high death toll

Specifically refers to the number of deaths, quantifying the loss.

significant losses

Focuses on the aspect of loss rather than specifically on people injured or killed.

severe losses

Emphasizes the severity of the losses, using a different adjective.

substantial fatalities

Replaces "casualties" with "fatalities", emphasizing deaths.

numerous wounded and dead

Explicitly mentions both the wounded and the dead, clarifying the types of casualties.

major injuries and deaths

Specifies the types of casualties, providing a more detailed description.

extensive destruction

Shifts the focus from human losses to the overall damage and destruction.

devastating impact

Focuses on the broad impact of an event, which may include casualties but isn't limited to them.

grievous harm

Uses a more emotional and impactful word choice to describe the damage done.

terrible cost

Highlights the cost or consequence of an event, rather than directly stating the number of casualties.

FAQs

How is "heavy casualties" used in a sentence?

The phrase "heavy casualties" is used to describe situations where a significant number of people have been injured or killed. For example: "The battle resulted in "heavy casualties" on both sides."

What's the difference between "heavy casualties" and "light casualties"?

"Heavy casualties" indicates a large number of people injured or killed, while "light casualties" indicates a small number. Using "light casualties" suggests the impact was less severe.

Are there other ways to describe a large number of deaths besides "heavy casualties"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "high death toll", "significant losses", or "substantial fatalities" depending on the specific context.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the term "heavy casualties"?

The term "heavy casualties" is appropriate in contexts where there has been significant loss of life or serious injuries, such as in war, natural disasters, or major accidents. It's commonly used in "news reports", historical accounts, and official statements to convey the severity of an event.