incautious remarks

USAGE SUMMARY

"incautious remarks" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe comments that are careless or lacking caution, often leading to unintended consequences. For example, "His incautious remarks during the meeting caused a stir among the attendees." Alternative expressions include "careless comments" and "reckless statements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

White House officials were infuriated by the episode, administration officials said, which one described as "the last straw" in a series of incautious remarks by Mr. Crowley.

The New York Times

The most incautious remarks came from former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel and former Representative Dennis Kucinich, both of whom had nothing to lose and knew it.

The New Yorker

Mr Duisenberg may have helped to put the skids under it with some incautious remarks, notably in an ill-judged newspaper interview in October.

The Economist

Cameron told Duncan that his position in the shadow cabinet was untenable after his incautious remarks last month to the blogger and film maker, Heydon Prowse.

The Guardian

Officials in No 10 now believe either that Sir Michael is playing anti-Labour politics - "he hates us" said one - or has been forced into a corner after making incautious remarks he now feels he must defend.

The Guardian

She was, to her greatest relief, able to reach him who had so unwontedly overheard her incautious remarks, for Mr. Heathcliff, despite his sometimes rough manner, was never without his cell.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Then, in February, CNN's chief news executive, Eason Jordan, resigned "to prevent CNN from being unfairly tarnished" by bloggers' outrage at an incautious remark Eason made at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland (see "Letter from Davos," p. 78).

MIT Technology Review

Happily, this went down well, not only with the subject of the comparison but with everyone else, and I got the feeling that I had somehow managed to combine appreciation, tact and sensitivity in a situation ripe to be ruined by a single, incautious remark.

Independent

On the last such occasion, in 2007, I incautiously remarked that Barack Obama -- then a presidential aspirant -- seemed to be inspiring young people in somewhat the same way as had Jack and Bobby.

HuffPost

Even if the work became sporadic after his triumphs in the 1970s and early 80s – perhaps the industry itself looked askance at his incautious Oscar remark – he benefitted from a groundswell of genuine, unfakeable affection from the public.

The Guardian - Film

There is also a macabre wit to the superb scene in which a husband and wife (Willmott himself and Francis) live in fear of being denounced by their son, a member of the Hitler Youth movement, over incautiously critical remarks about the regime.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "incautious remarks" specifically when describing public figures, politicians or professionals whose words have high stakes and have caused a stir.

Common error

Do not use "incautious remarks" as a synonym for 'incorrect facts'. A remark can be entirely true but still be incautious if its delivery causes unnecessary trouble or offense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incautious remarks" functions as a noun phrase typically used as the object of a preposition (e.g., "series of...") or the object of a verb (e.g., "made..."). According to Ludwig, it serves as a precise descriptor for speech that lacks the necessary filter for its specific social or professional context.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "incautious remarks" is a sophisticated and grammatically correct phrase frequently employed by authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a standard expression in English for describing verbal or written gaffes that result from a lack of foresight. It is particularly valuable in political and professional writing where the nuance between a simple mistake and a strategic lack of caution is essential. While it is categorized as Uncommon in general frequency, it maintains a high level of utility in neutral and formal registers, serving as a more precise alternative to "careless talk" or "reckless speech".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

careless comments

Uses a more common adjective and noun pairing, often for less formal situations

indiscreet utterances

Highlights the social failure to keep sensitive information private

imprudent observations

Uses more formal vocabulary to suggest a lack of wisdom

reckless statements

Implies a higher degree of negligence or danger resulting from the speech

ill-advised words

Focuses on the poor judgment behind the choice of words

unguarded speech

Suggests a lack of defensive filtering or public relations caution

hasty remarks

Emphasizes the speed of the statement rather than just the lack of caution

unwise pronouncements

Sounds more official or authoritative than casual remarks

rash declarations

Focuses on the suddenness and lack of forethought in making a claim

flippant asides

Implies a lack of seriousness or respect rather than just a lack of caution

FAQs

How to use "incautious remarks" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe comments that are careless, for example: "His "incautious remarks" during the meeting caused a stir among the attendees."

What is the difference between "incautious remarks" and "careless comments"?

While both refer to lack of care, "incautious remarks" sounds more formal and is often used in professional or political reporting, whereas "careless comments" is more common in everyday speech.

Can "incautious remarks" refer to written text?

Yes, it can refer to spoken or written statements, similar to "ill-judged statements" found in emails or social media posts.

Is it correct to say "incautiously remarked"?

Yes, you can use the adverbial form to describe the action, much like saying someone "spoke without thinking".