serious power

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serious power" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or substantial amount of power, often in a context related to influence, authority, or capability. Example: "The new legislation grants the government serious power to regulate the industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Beautifully placed to become a serious power in Brown's No 10.

Independent

The Cultural Revolution ended in a serious power struggle in the Chinese leadership.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He is the only former rebel to have retained serious power in government.

The Economist

Even before the earthquake, China faced the threat of serious power shortages this summer.

The New York Times

There is serious power in this message of self-acceptance and diverse beauty.

The Guardian

"I thought, 'Wow this is some serious power tennis,' " she said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

As Vladimir Putin seems intent on keeping his grip on Russian politics, Mr Medvedev will find he has to indulge in some serious power-sharing.

The Economist

He was a serious power-lifter, specializing in the bench press, but he was also a serious pianist, specializing in Chopin.

The New Yorker

On the other hand, we understand there are quite serious powers behind these viruses".

The New York Times - Tech

Serious powers such as Russia and Turkey are being sucked in and have invested too much of their prestige and credibility to pull back or suffer a defeat.

Independent

CDA can occur only under hypothetical conditions where a serious power-to-cooling mismatch is postulated.

Nuclear Engineering and Design

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's abilities, use "serious power" to convey that they possess a high degree of skill or talent in a particular area.

Common error

Avoid using "serious power" when describing something that requires finesse or delicacy. It's more suitable for describing brute force or significant authority, not subtle skill.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serious power" primarily functions as a descriptor, modifying a noun to emphasize the high degree of influence, capability, or intensity. This is evident in examples where it qualifies terms like 'tennis', 'shortages', and 'struggle' as showcased by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "serious power" is a versatile descriptor used to highlight a significant level of influence, capability, or intensity. As noted by Ludwig, it functions primarily to emphasize the importance of something and can be used in a variety of contexts. Its usage is particularly common in news and media, but also appears in scientific and formal business communications. While grammatically correct and widely used, it's important to consider the specific context when choosing this phrase. Alternatives like "substantial influence", "considerable authority", and "significant capability" offer similar meanings with subtle differences. Ludwig AI also confirms that this is a widely understood phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

powerful influence

Directly states the ability to affect someone or something.

substantial influence

Focuses on the impact and sway exerted, rather than sheer capacity.

major influence

Indicates a large degree of impact or control.

considerable authority

Emphasizes legitimate right to wield power or control.

significant capability

Highlights the capacity to perform or achieve, underlining skill and competence.

notable strength

Draws attention to the degree of force or resilience.

remarkable impact

Highlights the consequences and effects of actions or events.

formidable force

Conveys a sense of being impressive and possibly intimidating.

marked intensity

Stresses the degree of strength or concentration of something.

profound effect

Emphasizes a deep and far-reaching consequence.

FAQs

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

You can use "serious power" to describe capabilities, influence or authority, such as "The company wields "serious power" in the industry" or "He demonstrated "serious power" during the negotiation."

What's a good alternative to "serious power"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "serious power" include "substantial influence", "considerable authority", or "significant capability".

Is "serious power" formal or informal?

The phrase "serious power" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it is perhaps more common in news reporting and general discussions. Consider the audience when choosing this phrase.

What does it mean to have "serious power"?

To have "serious power" means to possess a significant amount of influence, authority, capability, or force. The specific meaning depends on the context in which the phrase is used.