salutary tale

USAGE SUMMARY

"salutary tale" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
The term is commonly used to refer to a moral lesson communicated through a story or narrative, often with a cautionary message. For example, you might say, "The story of Icarus served as a salutary tale about the dangers of overconfidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

It's a salutary tale for Alex.

The Guardian - Sport

This is a salutary tale about art criticism.

The Guardian - Arts

For reformers, the salutary tale of Congressman Dick Zimmer stands out.

The Guardian

AN EXHIBITION on show as Iran prepared for its presidential election on June 8th told a salutary tale.

The Economist

Here's a sobering and salutary tale for anyone thinking of renewing their home insurance with their existing provider.

Independent

The Fallen is a salutary tale in how not to go about being a rock star, being an author, and finding a band to cherish.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Nokia, BlackBerry and Ericsson are salutary tales in the mobile business: former darlings which were too slow to adapt to changing markets, and were left behind.

The Guardian - Business

But why and how Friendster missed the mark is a salutary Silicon Valley tale so instructive that Mikolaj Jan Piskorski, an assistant professor at the Harvard Business School, uses the company's inglorious fall as a case study in his strategy classes.

The New York Times

Despite the cover, and the flippant prose style given to Lia as the narrator, this is quite a thoughtful, salutary, well-researched tale.

Independent

But the interesting thing about this thoughtful novel – a salutary and very plausible tale – is the way the effects of the party follow Hannah for years afterwards, even while she's at university.

Independent

His tale is a salutary reminder that even in the internet era, it can still be a long way to the top.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "salutary tale" when you want to emphasize the beneficial or instructive nature of a story, particularly one that serves as a warning or lesson.

Common error

Avoid using "salutary tale" when the story is merely entertaining or informative without a clear moral or instructive purpose. Ensure the tale genuinely offers a lesson or warning to justify the adjective "salutary".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "salutary tale" functions as a noun phrase, where "salutary" modifies "tale". It describes a story that provides a beneficial lesson, often serving as a warning. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, where the phrase is used to characterize various narratives.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "salutary tale" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe a story that provides a beneficial lesson or warning. According to Ludwig, this phrase functions as a noun phrase, often found in news and media contexts with a neutral to formal register. It serves the purpose of educating or cautioning an audience through narrative. While there are several alternative phrases, such as "cautionary narrative" or "instructive tale", "salutary tale" maintains its unique emphasis on the beneficial aspect of the lesson. When using this phrase, ensure that the story genuinely offers a moral or warning to justify the "salutary" descriptor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instructive tale

Highlights the educational aspect of the story, focusing on what can be learned.

moral story

Highlights the ethical or moral lesson embedded in the story.

cautionary narrative

Shifts focus to the warning aspect of the story, highlighting potential dangers.

lesson-teaching story

Explicitly states that the story's primary function is to impart a lesson.

valuable tale

Emphasizes the importance and worth of the lesson conveyed by the story.

warning story

Directly emphasizes the cautionary nature of the narrative.

positive tale

Emphasizes the positive outcome or moral of the story.

virtuous tale

Highlights the moral excellence or righteousness portrayed in the story.

wholesome tale

Focuses on the story's positive and morally sound nature.

exemplary story

Focuses on the story as a model or example to be followed or avoided.

FAQs

How can I use "salutary tale" in a sentence?

You can use "salutary tale" to describe a story that provides a lesson or warning. For example, "The rise and fall of that company serves as a "salutary tale" for aspiring entrepreneurs".

What is another way to say "salutary tale"?

Alternatives to "salutary tale" include "cautionary narrative", "moral story", or "instructive tale", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "salutary tale" a formal or informal expression?

"Salutary tale" is generally considered a neutral to formal expression, suitable for use in news articles, academic writing, and professional contexts.

What kind of stories qualify as a "salutary tale"?

A "salutary tale" is a story that offers a lesson or warning, often about the consequences of certain actions or behaviors. These stories can be historical, fictional, or based on real-life events.