serious air

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serious air" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation or atmosphere that feels solemn, intense, or significant. Example: "The room had a serious air as the team discussed the implications of their findings." Alternative expressions include "grave atmosphere," "solemn tone," and "weighty presence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Jerusalem has no serious air pollution.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Avoid places with serious air pollution.

The New York Times - Travel

JJ Abrams has some serious air travel issues.

The Guardian

As China's main industrial centre, Shanghai has serious air, water, and noise pollution.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Serious air pollution has caused about one million premature deaths per year in China recently.

Environment International

The 2013 haze was the most serious air pollution event in Singapore's history.

Building and Environment

The dense traffic, especially in the Alpine valleys, is responsible for serious air and noise pollution.

Britannica

With everything to play for, both candidates will be clocking up serious air miles.

The Guardian

THE blogging bubble has been taking on serious air of late.

The New York Times - Tech

While there were no injuries in either incident, Ms. Hersman said, "this is a very serious air safety concern".

The New York Times

So far, North Dakota health officials say that flaring has not produced any serious air pollution problems.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing environmental issues, pair "serious air" with specific pollutants or sources to provide context and clarity. For example, "serious air pollution from industrial emissions".

Common error

Avoid using "serious air" as a general descriptor of importance or solemnity. While sometimes applicable to describe situations with grave implications (e.g. "the meeting had a serious air"), it primarily refers to environmental quality and atmospheric conditions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serious air" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "serious" modifies the noun "air". Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples across diverse contexts, particularly in relation to environmental concerns.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

1%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "serious air" commonly describes significant problems related to air quality and pollution, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Grammatically correct and frequently used in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts, it emphasizes the severity or critical nature of atmospheric conditions. While it can occasionally refer to a solemn atmosphere, its primary usage concerns environmental issues. When using the phrase, be specific about the pollutants or sources involved. For alternatives, consider phrases like "severe air pollution" or "critical air quality" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severe air pollution

Replaces "serious" with "severe" to emphasize the intensity of the pollution.

critical air quality

Substitutes "serious" with "critical", highlighting the importance and urgency of the air quality issue.

grave atmospheric conditions

Uses "grave" to convey a sense of danger or concern regarding the atmospheric conditions.

alarming air contamination

Replaces "serious" with "alarming" and "pollution" with "contamination" to express heightened concern.

hazardous air conditions

Focuses on the dangerous nature of the air conditions, emphasizing potential health risks.

major air crisis

Frames the situation as a "crisis", indicating a critical and urgent problem.

significant air pollution

Uses "significant" to indicate a noteworthy level of pollution.

heavy air pollution

Indicates a high density or concentration of pollutants in the air.

substantial atmospheric issues

Replaces "serious" with "substantial" and "air" with "atmospheric issues" for a more formal tone.

acute air contamination

Specifies the contamination as "acute", implying a sudden and severe onset.

FAQs

How can I use "serious air" in a sentence?

You can use "serious air" to describe significant air pollution problems, as in "The city faces "serious air pollution" due to traffic congestion".

What are some alternatives to "serious air" when discussing pollution?

Consider using phrases like "severe air pollution", "critical air quality", or "hazardous air conditions" to convey the severity of the situation.

Is it correct to use "serious air" to describe a tense atmosphere?

While less common, "serious air" can sometimes describe a solemn or grave atmosphere. However, it's more frequently associated with discussions about air quality and pollution; consider using alternative phrases such as "grave atmosphere" or "solemn tone" for more clarity in that context.

What causes "serious air" pollution?

Causes of "serious air pollution" include industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, burning of fossil fuels, and agricultural practices.