severe offense

USAGE SUMMARY

"severe offense" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a crime or misdeed that is seen as particularly serious. For example, "The court determined that the defendant had committed a severe offense and sentenced him to fifteen years in prison."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"The promiscuous use of firearms when necessity does not demand their use... becomes a grave and severe offense against which the State Police have been particularly instructed and warned," Colonel Schwarzkopf says.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Norbert Lüdecke, a professor of canon law at Bonn University, said that while every disobedient Catholic is to be punished based on the sin committed, the bishops' decree effectively placed refusal to pay church taxes nearly on par with the most severe offenses in the church.

The New York Times

In the BOP, prisoners are most often locked in segregation (called the "Special Housing Unit") for more severe offenses.

Huffington Post

As California news outlet EdSource Today noted, the racial disparity data do not suggest black males or Latinos commit more severe offenses.

Huffington Post

Lawmakers had made several unsuccessful attempts in recent years to make it easier to fire teachers charged with severe offenses after a string of high-profile abuse cases.

Los Angeles Times

This is when abusive behavior is mitigated by irrelevant comparisons to other, more severe offenses: "Well, it's not like Franken molested a child, right?!... .. To be sure, we're still experiencing a tipping point.

Huffington Post

Lawmakers had made several unsuccessful attempts in recent years to make it easier to fire teachers charged with severe offenses after a string of high-profile sexual abuse cases, including one involving Mark Berndt, a teacher at Miramonte Elementary School in the Los Angeles Unified School District, rocked the state.

Los Angeles Times

The present study confirms and expands previous findings on the psychopathology in juvenile offenders by focusing on a non-detained sample including to some extent also juvenile offenders with less severe offenses.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

In support of this characterization, he cites a hyperbolic statement that Young made advocating severe punishment for serious offenses, and his implied association with the tragic Mountain Meadows Massacre.

The New Yorker

School officials do not need a warrant or probable cause to search a student's locker or backpack, nor are they required to give a Miranda warning prior to an interrogation, no matter how severe the offense.

The New Yorker

Criticizing Apple these days is as severe an offense as calling someone's mother a whore.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "severe offense" to clearly convey the seriousness of a violation or crime. This phrase is suitable when you want to emphasize the gravity of the misconduct without necessarily specifying the exact legal category.

Common error

Avoid using "severe offense" in situations that are not genuinely serious. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and make your language sound melodramatic in everyday conversation or less formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severe offense" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'severe' modifies the noun 'offense'. It commonly acts as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting an action or behavior that is regarded as a serious violation. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "severe offense" is a phrase used to describe a particularly serious violation or crime. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used, especially in news and media and scientific contexts. While its formality makes it ideal for professional or academic writing, remember to use it judiciously to maintain its impact. Alternatives like "serious crime" or "grave transgression" can offer nuanced ways to express similar meanings, but if you want to emphasize the gravity of misconduct, while avoiding potentially more specific language, then "severe offense" is appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serious crime

Replaces 'offense' with a more specific term, 'crime', implying a legal violation of considerable magnitude.

grave transgression

Substitutes both 'severe' and 'offense' with synonyms that emphasize the seriousness and moral implications of the wrongdoing.

major violation

Replaces "offense" with violation, indicating a breach of rules or laws that is significant.

critical infraction

Emphasizes the breach of a specific rule or regulation, and highlights that it has significant consequences.

egregious wrongdoing

Replaces "severe offense" with synonyms that suggest the act is conspicuously bad or offensive.

heinous act

Emphasizes the wickedness of the deed, making it more dramatic and intense.

atrocious deed

Highlights the shocking and cruel nature of the action, making it sound abhorrent.

major breach

Replaces 'offense' with 'breach', implying a failure to adhere to an agreement, law, or standard.

significant misdeed

Replaces "offense" with misdeed, softening the legal overtone while maintaining seriousness of action.

substantial wrongdoing

This alternative emphasizes the act as ethically wrong and considerable in impact or scope.

FAQs

How can I use "severe offense" in a sentence?

You can use "severe offense" to describe a serious crime or violation, such as "The judge considered the crime a "severe offense" and imposed a lengthy prison sentence".

What are some alternatives to "severe offense"?

Alternatives include "serious crime", "grave transgression", or "major violation", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "severe offense" a formal or informal phrase?

"Severe offense" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for legal, journalistic, or academic contexts. In more casual settings, you might opt for a simpler term like "serious mistake" or "big problem".

What distinguishes "severe offense" from a regular "offense"?

The adjective "severe" amplifies the seriousness of the "offense". While an offense can range from minor to major, a "severe offense" indicates a particularly egregious or harmful violation that warrants significant consequences.