increase the seriousness

USAGE SUMMARY

'increase the seriousness' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe a situation that has become more severe or significant. For example: "After a series of delays, the authorities decided to increase the seriousness of the penalty for breaking the law."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A White House spokesman, Mike Hammer, said that the test undermined Iran's claims that its nuclear program was peaceful, and said that it would "increase the seriousness and resolve of the international community to hold Iran accountable" for its provocations, Reuters reported.

The New York Times

The increased level of CO2 emitted from fossil fuel consumption is one of the largest factors to increase the seriousness of global warming.

Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies - 6th International Conference Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies 1 – 4 October 2002, Kyoto, Japan

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Following a time-tested North Korean strategy of creating crises to win talks and concessions, Mr. Kim is increasing the seriousness of his military moves.

The New York Times

Expression of these ESBLs compromises the efficacy of current antibacterial therapies, potentially increasing the seriousness of hospital- and community-acquired Escherichia coli (E. coli) infections.

Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials

Hence, such expansion of influenza A(H7N9) virus host ranges undoubtedly increased the seriousness of the threat of this novel subtype.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

We could probably expect the difference in employer response rates between ex-offenders and non-offenders to increase with the seriousness of the crime committed by the ex-offenders.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

The police said the charges against Mr. Almonor were increased after the seriousness of the officer's injuries became clear.

The New York Times

The distribution of the inertia contributions may further increase the magnitude of the ROCOF and thus the seriousness of frequency instability.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Obesity prevention initiatives should focus on increasing the awareness of the seriousness of their condition and offering individually appropriate weight management programmes.

BMC Public Health

This increase underlines the seriousness of the colorectal cancer burden in the Czech Republic.

BMC Public Health

On the other hand, it is worth noting that the cost per QALY decreases with the increase of the seriousness of the treated patient's disease (CD4), showing that severe-illness patients can benefit the most (Table 8).

ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "increase the seriousness" when you want to emphasize that a situation or issue has become more grave or significant over time. For instance, "The evidence began to increase the seriousness of the allegations."

Common error

Avoid using "increase the seriousness" when describing a situation that is already at its peak severity. Instead, opt for phrases like "highlight the seriousness" or "emphasize the gravity" to reflect the already critical nature of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increase the seriousness" functions primarily as a verb phrase. It describes the action of making something more grave or significant. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a valid and usable English phrase, evident in examples discussing global warming and international relations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "increase the seriousness" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the process of something becoming more grave or critical, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While relatively rare, it appears in both news and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral register. It is best used to describe a gradual escalation, rather than to emphasize an already severe situation. Related phrases include "heighten the gravity" and "escalate the severity". When using this phrase, ensure that the context accurately reflects a situation evolving towards greater significance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heighten the gravity

Emphasizes making a situation more dire or solemn.

escalate the severity

Focuses on raising the level of negative impact or intensity.

magnify the importance

Highlights increasing the perceived significance of something.

intensify the impact

Stresses making the effects of something stronger.

aggravate the condition

Specifically refers to worsening an existing state, often in a negative context.

exacerbate the problem

Implies making a problem worse or more intense.

amplify the risk

Focuses on increasing the potential dangers or hazards.

deepen the crisis

Suggests making a critical situation more profound or severe.

augment the significance

Increases the perceived importance or value.

underscore the urgency

Highlights the immediate need for action due to increasing seriousness.

FAQs

How can I use "increase the seriousness" in a sentence?

You can use "increase the seriousness" to describe how something becomes more grave or significant over time. For example: "New evidence began to increase the seriousness of the charges."

What are some alternatives to "increase the seriousness"?

You can use alternatives like "heighten the gravity", "escalate the severity", or "magnify the importance", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "increase the seriousness of"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "increase the seriousness of". For example: "The new regulations aim to increase the seriousness of environmental violations."

What is the difference between "increase the seriousness" and "emphasize the seriousness"?

"Increase the seriousness" implies a gradual escalation, while "emphasize the seriousness" highlights an existing level of severity. For example, you might "increase the seriousness" of penalties over time, or "emphasize the seriousness" of an already dangerous situation.