raise an alert

USAGE SUMMARY

"raise an alert" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to declaring an emergency or calling for warning about something. For example, "The police raised an alert when they heard about the escaped criminal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The inquest had also heard that Mr Williams' immediate superior at the intelligence service did not raise an alert for seven days after he had failed to turn up for work and basic procedures in such a situation were not adhered to.

Independent

Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, Democrat of Connecticut, doubtless spoke for much of official Washington and the public when he said on "Late Edition" on CNN that he doubted President Bush or Mr. Ridge "would raise an alert level and scare people for political reasons".

The New York Times

Last week the Samaritans launched Samaritans Radar, a service which monitors Twitter feeds for words such as 'depressed' or phrases such as 'need someone to talk to' and then sends an alert to people who have opted in to the service to raise an alert of a potential cry for help.

The Guardian

Such impressive numbers raise an alert to the reader that the exception handling policies of such SPLs might not have received enough attention during development.

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

Event production: Generating an event to transfer some information, e.g. to raise an alert, inform of some happening, or simply respond to a query.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

The children's ability to observe pictures and then to use a telephone to raise an alert were assessed.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The World Health Organisation has already raised an alert about the revival of polio in northern Syria.

The Guardian

Uncertain what was happening, civilian authorities "raised an alert" and eventually ordered the army to return the units to their bases, the newspaper reported.

The New York Times

The plane's luggage was pulled out, and a dog raised an alert at Mr. Abdelsalam's bag, which was blown open with a water cannon.

The New York Times

In September 2015, volcanologists raised an alert after detecting an increase in the number of shallow earthquakes near the summit and the upper south-west rift zone.

The Guardian

Each IDS while sniffing the incoming network traffic raises an alert for the presence of an attack.

Complex & Intelligent Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "raise an alert" when you want to emphasize the action of making others aware of a potential danger or problem. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "raise an alert" interchangeably with phrases like "raise an alarm" if the context requires a specific type of notification. An 'alert' is often more general, while an 'alarm' might suggest a more immediate danger.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "raise an alert" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of issuing or triggering a warning about a potential danger or problem. As Ludwig points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. Examples show its use in contexts ranging from security systems to volcanic activity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

50%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "raise an alert" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote the act of warning others about potential dangers or problems. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is applicable across various contexts, including news, science, and general communication. While alternatives like "sound the alarm" or "issue a warning" can be used, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Keep in mind to use it when awareness is required and tailor the use for a suitable level of formality. Based on the data, it is used more in News and Science.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

send out an alert

This alternative emphasizes the action of distributing the alert to a wider audience.

sound the alarm

This alternative is more emphatic and implies a sense of urgency.

issue a warning

This alternative is more formal and suggests an official communication of danger.

trigger an alarm

This alternative focuses on the action that initiates the alert.

warn of danger

This alternative directly emphasizes the act of warning someone about a potential danger.

signal a threat

This alternative specifically refers to indicating a potential danger or harm.

flag a concern

This alternative is less direct and more subtle, suggesting a problem that needs attention.

call attention to

This alternative focuses on bringing something to notice, often a potential problem.

put on notice

This alternative implies a formal warning or notification of potential consequences.

give notification of

This alternative is more formal and focuses on the act of informing someone about something.

FAQs

How can I use "raise an alert" in a sentence?

You can use "raise an alert" to indicate that someone is warning others about a potential danger or problem. For instance, "The security system will "raise an alert" if there's an intrusion."

What can I say instead of "raise an alert"?

You can use alternatives like "sound the alarm", "issue a warning", or "send out an alert" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "raise an alert" or "issue an alert"?

Both "raise an alert" and "issue an alert" are correct, but "issue an alert" is often used in more formal or official contexts, while "raise an alert" is a bit more general. Choose the one that best fits the tone of your writing.

What is the difference between "raise an alert" and "raise an alarm"?

"Raise an alert" is a more general term for drawing attention to a potential issue, while "raise an alarm" often suggests a more urgent or immediate threat. Using "raise an alarm" implies a higher level of danger.