serious grievance

USAGE SUMMARY

"serious grievance" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to a significant and valid complaint or issue that a person may have. Example: The employees brought forward their serious grievances about the unfair treatment they were receiving from their boss.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Restrictions on the flow of goods into Tamil-controlled areas, a serious grievance, have been eased.

The Economist

But, crucially, a complainant with a serious grievance would have an umpire to turn to.The much bigger question is about future financing.

The Economist

The writer who complains that another has ripped off his ideas would seem to have the most serious grievance, but these cases are hardest to prove.

The New York Times - Books

Unfortunately, from my point of view, the only serious grievance I had against my parents was that they'd never treated me in a manner that a reasonable person would consider grounds for running away — a logical knot I couldn't untie.

The New Yorker

Whenever some particularly serious grievance arose, they would march in a body on the capital and try to force acceptance of their demands by a direct appeal to the court, a common phenomenon in the last century of the Heian period.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Elliott Chin criticized the game's population limit, which he thought to be its "most serious grievance".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The court majority said that those were serious grievances but that the court could provide no relief.

The New York Times

Shifting its tone from K.'s benighted obliviousness to omniscient sarcasm, the book burdens a fragile, satirical structure with the weight of serious grievances on many subjects.

The New York Times - Books

This community had serious grievances, the most significant being that educated young muhajirs could not get jobs because of imposed quotas.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even before the war ended, Milner had begun to "reconstruct" the vanquished Afrikaner republics; the most serious grievances of the mine magnates were removed, and an efficient bureaucracy was established.

Encyclopedia Britannica

England's opponents can harbour serious grievances about the moment, after 62 minutes, when Marko Devic's shot flicked off Joe Hart and was clearly over the goalline by the time Terry had hooked the ball away.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "serious grievance", ensure the context clearly establishes the validity and impact of the complaint to underscore its importance.

Common error

Avoid using "serious grievance" for trivial matters; reserve it for issues that genuinely warrant significant attention and have considerable consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serious grievance" functions as a noun phrase, where "serious" modifies the noun "grievance", indicating the significance or severity of the complaint. This is consistent with examples from Ludwig which demonstrates usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "serious grievance" denotes a significant and valid complaint. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in formal and professional contexts. While interchangeable with alternatives like "major complaint" or "profound discontent", the choice depends on the specific nuance. As examples in Ludwig indicate, it's crucial to reserve this phrase for issues that warrant significant attention, avoiding its use for trivial matters. Ludwig AI reports that the phrase is mostly used in "News & Media", "Encyclopedias" and "Formal & Business" contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major grievance

Emphasizes the significance of the complaint, similar to "serious grievance".

substantial complaint

Stresses the validity and weight of the grievance.

significant objection

Highlights the importance of the disagreement or opposition.

grave injustice

Highlights the unfairness and severity of the issue.

profound discontent

Focuses on the deep dissatisfaction and unhappiness.

deep-seated resentment

Indicates a long-lasting and intense feeling of bitterness.

legitimate concern

Underlines the validity and justification of the worry or issue.

pressing issue

Highlights the urgency and importance of addressing the problem.

critical problem

Focuses on the severity and potential consequences of the issue.

dire situation

Emphasizes the severity and urgency of the circumstances.

FAQs

What does "serious grievance" mean?

A "serious grievance" refers to a significant complaint or issue that causes substantial concern and requires attention. It implies a valid and weighty basis for discontent.

How to use "serious grievance" in a sentence?

You might say, "The employees presented a "serious grievance" regarding their working conditions", indicating a major issue needed resolution.

What are some alternatives to "serious grievance"?

Alternatives include "major complaint", "grave injustice", or "profound discontent", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "serious grievance" in informal conversation?

While grammatically correct, "serious grievance" is more suited for formal or professional contexts. In informal settings, simpler terms like "big problem" or "major issue" might be more fitting.