seriously serious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seriously serious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the gravity or importance of a situation or statement, often in a humorous or exaggerated way. Example: "When it comes to climate change, we need to be seriously serious about our actions to protect the planet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Ketchup master plan incubates until 2010, when they get seriously serious: Norton repatriates; Ramadan quits job.

The New Yorker

The seriously serious reason is that there is now an England-shaped hole in British politics.

The Guardian - Opinion

There are two reasons for this, one serious and one seriously serious.

The Guardian - Opinion

But with him, the issue is the thing, and so he is mostly seriously serious.

The New York Times

It is a "serious" work: seriously funny, seriously sharp, seriously sick, and, to borrow Andrew Motion's construction, seriously serious.

The Guardian - Books

Mateship is a seriously serious topic for many Australians, while others delight in taking the mickey out of a concept which has often been reduced to a cliche.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Seriously-serious want nothing to do with you terminally weird Nells-from-the-movie-Nell forever.

Vice

Rather bizarrely, Poole, succumbing momentarily to an injurious relativism, claims that Bourdain is "a serious, and seriously good, writer".

The Guardian - Books

If you can't find two hours to spend with "Netanyahu at War," don't write to me complaining that you can't find anything serious and seriously good on the broadcast channels. .

Los Angeles Times

7. Look for playfulness in your life - don't take life so seriously In serious times I often find myself taking my own life and my own self just SO very serious.

Huffington Post

George Bush and Vladimir Putin, after months of acrimony and years of inaction, are suddenly ready to talk seriously about serious matters.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seriously serious" to add emphasis or a touch of humor when describing a situation that is, in fact, very serious.

Common error

Avoid using "seriously serious" too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive and diminish its impact. Instead, vary your language with synonyms or alternative expressions to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seriously serious" functions primarily as an intensifier, emphasizing the high degree of seriousness. It's often used to underscore the importance of a situation or action, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seriously serious" is a valid and usable expression in English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Functioning as an intensifier, it's employed to emphasize the gravity of a situation, often with a touch of humor or irony. While grammatically correct and appearing primarily in news and media contexts, its usage should be tempered to avoid repetition. For more formal settings, alternatives like "genuinely earnest" or "truly significant" may be more appropriate. Ultimately, "seriously serious" serves as a way to underscore importance while acknowledging the weight of the matter at hand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deadly earnest

Similar in tone, but implies an almost humorless and intense level of seriousness.

genuinely earnest

Emphasizes sincerity and honesty, differing slightly from the humorous exaggeration of "seriously serious".

truly significant

Highlights the importance and consequence of something, rather than just its seriousness.

absolutely vital

Highlights the complete essentiality of something.

exceptionally vital

Emphasizes the indispensable nature and importance.

sincerely crucial

Emphasizes the genuine necessity of something.

utterly critical

Stresses the essential and crucial nature of something, adding a sense of urgency.

unusually crucial

Adds emphasis on the exceptional necessity of something.

remarkably important

Highlights noteworthiness and value.

exceedingly grave

Conveys a sense of deep concern and severity, focusing on the somber aspects.

FAQs

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

You can use "seriously serious" to emphasize a situation's importance, often with a touch of irony. For example: "When it comes to climate change, we need to be "deadly earnest", even "seriously serious", about our actions."

What's a more formal alternative to "seriously serious"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "genuinely earnest" or "truly significant" to convey the gravity of the situation without the slight exaggeration inherent in "seriously serious".

Is "seriously serious" grammatically correct?

Yes, "seriously serious" is grammatically correct, although it's more of an emphatic or stylistic choice than a strictly formal construction. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability.

When is it appropriate to use "seriously serious"?

It is appropriate when you want to emphasize the importance of a matter but also introduce a hint of humor or irony. It is often used to highlight that while something is serious, the response must be even more so.