severe questions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severe questions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to questions that are serious, intense, or challenging in nature. Example: "The committee posed severe questions regarding the project's feasibility and budget constraints."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Denman, in particular, has some severe questions to confront at Cheltenham.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Whittingdale said: "Panorama increases the strength of the case considerably for a new inquiry … There is a severe question mark over over the tactics he [Mahmood] used … We are dealing with convictions which may not have been properly obtained".

The Guardian

The morality and even the efficacy of saturation bombing came under severe question after the war, and, disappointed by such reappraisal of his war aims and methods, Harris lived for a time in South Africa, where from 1946 to 1953 he was managing director of the South African Marine Corporation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The degradation of sidelobe level of array pattern becomes a severe question if sidelobe region was set null.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

AMA president, Cecil B. Wilson, M.D., said, "Unless those regulations are done in the right way, this whole effort to expand accountable care organizations across this country and improve health care, and to a great extent the outcome of the Affordable Care Act, will be in severe question".

Huffington Post

To optimize screening and early intervention programs to prevent progression to severe disease, several questions must be answered: a) How rapidly do individuals with exposure develop BeS? b) How likely are BeS individuals to develop CBD? c) What is the time course of these changes?

Environmental Health Perspectives

Those words and actions have been so severe they've raised serious questions about their impact on suicide rates of LGBT youth inside the faith, including Harry Fisher, whose death was closely linked to his experience as a gay Mormon man.

Huffington Post

If the chain reaction proves severe the question is whether the US, too, could be beating a retreat.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The situation here is severe — a question of which churches will be abandoned next," said the Rev. Shigeshi Oyama, 61, who, because of a shortage of priests, celebrated Mass at two churches on the Fifth Sunday of Lent recently.

The New York Times

When an inmate raises an as-applied constitutional challenge to a particular method of execution that is, a challenge to a method of execution that is constitutional in general but that the inmate says is very likely to cause him severe pain one question is whether the inmate must identify an available alternative method of execution that would significantly reduce the risk of severe pain.

Cornell University

The presented long-term outcome perceptions after moderate to severe TBI question current clinical and experimental results of deteriorated recovery for the immature brain.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "severe questions" when you want to emphasize the seriousness or potential consequences of the inquiries being made. This phrase is useful in formal contexts where precision and impact are important.

Common error

Avoid using "severe questions" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "tough questions" or "difficult questions" may be more appropriate for everyday situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severe questions" functions as a noun phrase where "severe" modifies the noun "questions". It describes the nature or intensity of the questions being posed. Ludwig indicates this phrase is usable in written English to refer to serious, intense, or challenging questions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "severe questions" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that denotes inquiries of a serious or critical nature. While not extremely common, it frequently appears in news media, scientific publications, and academic discussions. According to Ludwig, it is deemed correct to use "severe questions" when the intent is to highlight the intensity and potential impact of the issues under consideration. For more casual contexts, alternatives like "difficult questions" or "tough questions" might be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critical inquiries

This emphasizes the importance and potential impact of the questions.

serious concerns

This shifts the focus to the underlying issues that the questions address.

pressing issues

This highlights the urgency and need for immediate attention.

urgent inquiries

This emphasizes the time-sensitive nature of the questions.

difficult questions

This focuses on the challenging nature of finding answers.

complex inquiries

Highlights the intricacy and depth of the questions involved.

challenging questions

Similar to difficult questions, but may imply a more stimulating challenge.

probing questions

Emphasizes the thoroughness and depth of the questioning.

acute issues

Highlights the sharp, intense nature of the issues.

grave doubts

Focuses on significant reservations or uncertainties.

FAQs

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

You can use "severe questions" to describe inquiries that are serious and require careful consideration. For example, "The investigation raised "severe questions" about the company's financial practices".

What are some alternatives to "severe questions"?

Alternatives to "severe questions" include "serious concerns", "pressing issues", or "critical inquiries". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to use "serious questions" or "severe questions"?

"Serious questions" and "severe questions" are similar, but "severe questions" implies a higher degree of intensity or potential impact. Use "severe" when the questions have significant implications or consequences.

In what context is it appropriate to use the phrase "severe questions"?

The phrase "severe questions" is suitable for formal writing and discussions, especially in academic, professional, or news contexts. It's often used when discussing investigations, ethical dilemmas, or critical evaluations.