on a critical note

USAGE SUMMARY

"on a critical note" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to introduce and emphasize the seriousness of a point that you are about to make. For example: "On a critical note, I would like to remind everyone to take their safety seriously and be aware of the dangers around them."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

On a critical note, one potential limitation of the current study is that participants did not complete an immediate recall test at the end of each experimental session.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Wolfe went out on a critical note.

The New York Times - Sports

But I do not want to end on a critical note.

The New York Times - Books

On a critical note, it may be that the sampling time was responsible for the negative results.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

On a critical note, however, the primary experimental evidence of the scaling laws is presented in a less than optimal manner.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

& Schnitzler, A. A critical note on the definition of phase-amplitude cross-frequency coupling.

Nature

On "Late Show," Mr. Rather struck a critical note about the government's intelligence efforts.

The New York Times

A critical note should be placed on these models, since the distribution of C3b molecules on our beads is probably less uniform than depicted.

BMC Biology

On a more critical note, it is questionable whether a difference solely in how information on adverse effects is communicated could have a detectable effect on behavioral outcomes.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Despite Orbison's death in December 1988, the remaining four recorded a second album in May 1990 with the title Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3. Dylan finished the decade on a critical high note with Oh Mercy produced by Daniel Lanois.

Wikipedia

On a slightly more critical note though, one might have hoped for a series of converging arguments about what is supposed to be the thesis of the paper - namely argument A. Yet, arguments B and C seem to stand somehow on their own, each defending a particular scientific hypothesis, on the origin of life for the first and on the prokaryote-to-eukaryote transition for the second.

Biology Direct

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on a critical note" to introduce a carefully considered, but negative, observation. This sets a tone of thoughtful analysis rather than simple complaint.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences or paragraphs with "on a critical note". This can make your writing sound repetitive and overly negative. Vary your introductory phrases to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on a critical note" functions as a discourse marker, specifically introducing a caveat, concern, or negative assessment. As seen in Ludwig, it often precedes a statement that qualifies or contrasts with what has been previously stated.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on a critical note" is a prepositional phrase functioning as a discourse marker to introduce a cautionary or negative observation. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in academic, scientific, and journalistic contexts. While "on a critical note" is a useful way to signal a potential problem or limitation, it's important to vary your language and avoid overusing it to maintain reader engagement. Alternatives like "importantly" or "a point of concern is" can provide similar nuance without sounding repetitive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on a cautionary note

Very close in meaning but emphasizes caution over criticism.

a point of concern is

Highlights concern directly, more direct.

on the downside

Directly introduces a negative aspect, less formal than "on a critical note".

of particular concern

Highlights worry but doesn't directly indicate critique.

it should be noted

Calls attention to something noteworthy, often with a critical undertone.

importantly

Conveys significance but lacks the explicit negativity of "on a critical note".

it is important to note

Emphasizes importance, but lacks the critical aspect.

more seriously

Emphasizes the gravity of the statement that follows.

however

Indicates contrast but is more general than "on a critical note".

conversely

Introduces an opposing view, less nuanced than "on a critical note".

FAQs

How can I use "on a critical note" in a sentence?

Use "on a critical note" to introduce a point of concern or a negative observation. For example: "On a critical note, the budget cuts will significantly impact our research capabilities."

What are some alternatives to "on a critical note"?

You can use alternatives like "importantly", "a point of concern is", or "however", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "on a critical note"?

It's appropriate to use "on a critical note" when you need to introduce a serious concern, limitation, or potential problem that should be carefully considered. Use it to transition into a more analytical or cautionary part of your discussion.

Is "on a critical note" formal or informal?

"On a critical note" is generally considered neutral to formal. It's suitable for academic, professional, and journalistic contexts. It's more formal than alternatives like "on the downside" but less stiff than something like "it is imperative to consider."