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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
in order of severity
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "in order of severity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a ranking or arrangement of items based on how serious or severe they are. Example: "The issues were addressed in order of severity, starting with the most critical problems first."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(4)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
11 human-written examples
Thus, pneumonia was classified in order of severity as very severe pneumonia, severe pneumonia and pneumonia as opposed to the older WHO classification of severe pneumonia, moderate pneumonia and mild pneumonia respectively [ 28].
Science
For the next two minutes we ranked them in order of severity — which anxieties worried each of us the most?
News & Media
The following will outline, in order of severity, 'abnormal' cognitive decline.
Science
This may have introduced some bias if persons were seen in order of severity rather than by booking order.
Science
At the pluteus stage, HD-expressing embryos exhibited a range of phenotypes that could be ranked in order of severity.
Science
Anthrax infections fall into three different categories, reflecting the route of entry; inhalational, gastrointestinal or cutaneous in order of severity of the infection.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
48 human-written examples
Median levels of PLGF, PLGF/sFlt-1 and T-AOC decreased in the order of severity (severe PE < PE < GH < NP; p < 0.0001) whilst sFlt-1, 8-epi-PGF2α and sFlt- 1/PLGF ratio significantly increased in study participants in the order of severity (severe PE > PE > GH > NP; p < 0.0001) (Fig. 1).
Science
Functional effects of variants can be classified into 34 consequences in Sequence Ontology [ 41], which were ranked in the order of severity (more severe to less severe) by Ensembl analysis group [ 40, 42].
Science
These are in order of importance: severity of initial illness, smoking, female gender and adverse psychological factors.
Science
Of those whose wills may be suppressed, we may include customers, voluntary members, involuntary members, and enemies (in order of ascending severity).
Wiki
Varieties are listed in order of increasing severity of leaf symptoms expression.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "in order of severity", ensure that the criteria for determining severity are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify whether you're ranking by potential impact, frequency of occurrence, or some other measure.
Common error
Avoid using "in order of severity" when you actually mean 'importance' or 'urgency'. Severity refers specifically to the degree of seriousness or gravity, not necessarily how critical something is to address first.
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
4.3/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "in order of severity" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the method or criterion used for arranging or prioritizing items. Ludwig examples show this phrase in use across various domains, typically to describe a systematic approach.
Frequent in
Science
70%
News & Media
20%
Formal & Business
10%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "in order of severity" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for describing a ranking or arrangement based on how serious something is. Its use is more common in scientific and news contexts, indicating a formal tone. When writing, ensure you clearly define what 'severity' means in your specific context. Alternatives include "ranked by severity" or "sorted by seriousness". This phrase is used to clearly communicate a prioritization or sequencing method.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
ranked by severity
Uses a more concise verb to indicate the arrangement.
sorted by seriousness
Replaces "severity" with a synonym, "seriousness", maintaining the same meaning.
arranged by degree of seriousness
More explicitly states the arrangement criteria, adding "degree of".
prioritized by severity
Indicates a prioritization process based on severity.
categorized by level of impact
Shifts the focus to the impact or effect of something rather than its strict severity.
listed from least to most severe
Specifies the direction of the arrangement, from least to most severe.
classified according to seriousness
Emphasizes the classification process based on seriousness.
graded by intensity
Uses "intensity" as a measure, which can be applicable in some contexts.
sequenced by impact
Focuses on the sequential arrangement based on impact, a broader term than severity.
ordered according to criticality
Substitutes severity with "criticality", highlighting the importance of the arrangement based on critical factors.
FAQs
How do I use "in order of severity" in a sentence?
You can use "in order of severity" to describe how items are arranged or addressed based on their seriousness. For example, "The injuries were treated "in order of severity", starting with the most life-threatening."
What can I say instead of "in order of severity"?
You can use alternatives like "ranked by severity", "sorted by seriousness", or "arranged by degree of seriousness" depending on the context.
Which is correct, "in order of severity" or "based on severity"?
Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "In order of severity" implies a specific arrangement or sequence, while "based on severity" simply indicates that severity is a factor in the decision-making process.
What's the difference between "in order of severity" and "in order of importance"?
"In order of severity" refers to the degree of seriousness of something, while "in order of importance" refers to how critical or crucial something is. They are not interchangeable, although sometimes the most severe issues are also the most important.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
4.3/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested