severely different

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severely different" is not correct in standard English; the correct expression is "severely different" is often considered a misuse.
It can be used when trying to emphasize a significant difference, but it is more common to use "significantly different" instead. Example: "The two proposals are significantly different in their approach to the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The tone that this newscast takes is severely different from any other video that The Daily Capper has released previously.

Vice

During homogenisation, large strains would occur at the interface between the two severely different phases resulting in high distortion in the model which cannot be computed.

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"We recognize that we are dealing with a budget deficit, but the trucking industry has been hit so severely from several different angles," said Ms. Toth, whose organization represents about 1,000 trucking companies that operate in New Jersey.

The New York Times

Upregulation of IDO, a tryptophan-degrading enzyme, induces tryptophan depletion in the local surroundings, which severely downregulates different facets of immune responses, such as effector T cell populations, DC cells, and NK cells [7], [8].

Plosone

However, we need to rely on an index that does not severely punish different resolution scales: our reference partition categorizes genes in only N c F = 7 groups, which yields a coarse-grained functional classification of the genome of M. tuberculosis.

BMC Systems Biology

In one-week field investigation in the earthquake-affected areas, several severely damaged areas with different topographic and geological features were surveyed, as well as the site of Kaligandaki River landslide dam failure.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

After the original tests, the columns were severely damaged with different damage conditions due to the different combined cyclic loading effects (T/M).

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

After the previous tests, the columns were severely damaged with different damage conditions.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

The structure and dynamics of dendritic spines reflect the strength of synapses, which are severely affected in different brain diseases.

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

The forced adoption of single form of accounting runs the risk of severely restricting the different forms of capitalism that can develop.

The British Accounting Review

Woffinden wrote of the songs that "plead plaintively with critics not to judge too severely": "In this different context, such pleas are more sympathetic.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "severely different" is sometimes used to emphasize a strong contrast, consider using alternatives like "significantly different" or "markedly different" for improved clarity and grammatical acceptance.

Common error

Avoid using "severely different" when a simpler adjective like "very", "quite", or "distinct" would suffice. Overusing intensifiers can weaken your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severely different" functions as an intensifier (adverb "severely") modifying an adjective ("different"). It aims to emphasize the magnitude of the difference. However, Ludwig indicates that the phrase is not correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "severely different" seeks to emphasize a substantial difference, its grammatical standing is questionable. Ludwig AI considers it incorrect in standard English. Although found in contexts like news articles and scientific papers, substituting it with alternatives such as "significantly different", "markedly different", or "greatly different" is generally recommended for enhanced clarity and grammatical correctness. These alternatives ensure your writing remains precise and adheres to standard English conventions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly different

Replaces "severely" with "significantly", indicating a notable degree of difference.

markedly different

Uses "markedly" instead of "severely", suggesting a conspicuous difference.

greatly different

Employs "greatly" to emphasize the extent of the difference.

distinctly different

Substitutes "severely" with "distinctly", highlighting a clear and recognizable difference.

considerably different

Replaces "severely" with "considerably", indicating a substantial difference.

noticeably different

Uses "noticeably" to suggest that the difference is easily observed.

radically different

Employs "radically" to emphasize a fundamental or extreme difference.

fundamentally different

Substitutes "severely" with "fundamentally", highlighting a difference in basic nature.

substantially different

Replaces "severely" with "substantially", indicating a significant amount of difference.

sharply contrasting

This option replaces "severely different" with an adjective phrase that emphasizes the contrast between the two items.

FAQs

What does "severely different" mean?

The phrase "severely different" is intended to emphasize a very significant difference. However, it is often considered grammatically questionable and may be better replaced by alternatives like "significantly different" or "markedly different".

Is "severely different" grammatically correct?

The grammatical correctness of "severely different" is debated. While understandable, it's not considered standard English. Using alternatives like "greatly different" or "distinctly different" is generally preferred.

What can I say instead of "severely different"?

You can use alternatives like "significantly different", "markedly different", or "considerably different" depending on the context. These options are generally clearer and more grammatically accepted.

When is it appropriate to use "severely different"?

While not generally recommended, "severely different" might be used in informal contexts where emphasis is desired. However, in formal writing, it's better to opt for more standard alternatives like "radically different" or "fundamentally different".