salutary lesson

USAGE SUMMARY

"salutary lesson" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a lesson or experience that was useful or beneficial in a certain way. For example: "John learned a salutary lesson in humility when he realized how much he had taken for granted in the past."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Music

Sports

Business

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A salutary lesson.

The Economist

A Salutary Lesson.

Columbia University

It's a salutary lesson.

The Times

Oxfam provides a salutary lesson.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it was a salutary lesson.

The Guardian

It is a salutary lesson for Giggs.

Independent

Salutary lesson: Wear baggy jeans and get a decent haircut.

The Guardian - Music

Salutary lesson: Never board trains first or last.

The Guardian - Music

Storyville: Leaving the Cult provided another salutary lesson in the power of young resolve.

Independent

But the third salutary lesson of this episode, though related to the other two, is deeper.

The Economist

I had forgotten to release the pressure and two bottles had exploded – a salutary lesson.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "salutary lesson" to describe an experience that, while perhaps unpleasant, ultimately leads to a positive change in behavior or understanding. It's most effective when the learning comes from a mistake or negative situation.

Common error

Don't use "salutary lesson" to describe a purely positive experience. "Salutary" implies a corrective or beneficial effect from something initially negative or challenging. If there was no prior problem or challenge, a simpler term like "valuable lesson" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "salutary lesson" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the object or subject complement in a sentence. It identifies an experience that provides a beneficial correction or warning, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Books

10%

Less common in

Music

2%

Sports

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "salutary lesson" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe a beneficial learning experience, often stemming from a negative situation that leads to correction or improvement. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While versatile, the term is more formal and its usage should be considered carefully for connotative accuracy. Predominantly found in news, academic, and literary contexts, it emphasizes the corrective nature of the learning experience. Remember to reserve this phrase for situations where the lesson arises from a mistake or challenge, not just any positive occurrence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

valuable learning experience

Replaces 'lesson' with a broader term, 'learning experience', emphasizing the overall impact.

instructive cautionary tale

Highlights the warning aspect of the lesson, presenting it as a 'cautionary tale'.

beneficial learning curve

Emphasizes the improvement and growth aspect of the lesson, using 'learning curve'.

eye-opening revelation

Focuses on the sudden understanding gained from the experience.

illuminating discovery

Suggests the lesson was found through exploration or research.

significant insight

Highlights the depth and importance of the lesson learned.

practical takeaway

Emphasizes the useful and applicable nature of the lesson.

useful piece of knowledge

Breaks down 'lesson' into 'piece of knowledge', emphasizing its usefulness.

essential understanding

Focuses on the critical nature of the knowledge gained.

constructive feedback

Highlights the positive and helpful nature of the lesson.

FAQs

How to use "salutary lesson" in a sentence?

You can use "salutary lesson" to describe an experience that teaches someone a valuable lesson, often through a mistake or hardship. For example: "The company's failure to adapt to new technologies served as a "salutary lesson" about the importance of innovation".

What can I say instead of "salutary lesson"?

You can use alternatives like "valuable learning experience", "instructive cautionary tale", or "beneficial learning curve" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "salutary lesson" and "valuable lesson"?

"Salutary lesson" implies that the lesson learned was derived from a negative experience and had a corrective effect. "Valuable lesson", on the other hand, is a more general term that can apply to lessons learned from both positive and negative experiences.

Is "salutary lesson" formal or informal?

"Salutary lesson" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for professional or academic writing. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "good lesson" or "helpful experience" may be more appropriate.