severely overdue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severely overdue" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is significantly late or past its due date, often implying a sense of urgency or seriousness regarding the delay. Example: "The report is severely overdue, and we need to address the issue immediately to avoid further complications."

✓ Grammatically correct

Applied Water Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The segment of the probability density function to the right of the nominal divide is considered inefficient, with more weight assigned to the more severely overdue residence times.

Applied Water Science

"Worse still, the employees who have helped build this business stand to lose their jobs as well as their back pay from a severely overdue payroll".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Five years after the start of a financial crisis that set off broad economic, social and political problems and severely strained the idea of European unity, an overdue cleanup of euro zone banks is about to begin.

The New York Times

Its humorous and satirical subject matter is reflected in its music video, which featured a severely injured Flav being mistreated by a remiss, overdue ambulance staff.

Wikipedia

Ms. Conroy rounded up Broadway-worthy costumes and oversaw some long overdue technical improvements in the theater, which she described as "gorgeous but severely outdated".

The New York Times

The bursting of the dot-com bubble was long overdue, but as in any shakeout, the good companies have been punished just as severely as the bad.

Forbes

"The Met's credibility has been severely damaged with the supine approach it has taken and an independent review of its investigation is frankly long-overdue.

BBC

Much overdue".

The Guardian - Music

"That's overdue.

The New York Times

I am really overdue".

Independent

They are already overdue.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "severely overdue" when you want to emphasize the seriousness or urgency of a delay. It's stronger than simply saying "late" or "overdue".

Common error

Avoid using "severely overdue" in contexts where a more neutral term like "delayed" would suffice. Overusing it can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

Severely overdue functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is significantly past its deadline. As Ludwig AI states, it describes something that is significantly late or past its due date, often implying a sense of urgency or seriousness regarding the delay.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "severely overdue" is a grammatically sound and usable adjective phrase in English, albeit relatively rare in occurrence. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is employed to describe something significantly past its due date, often implying urgency. Primarily found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it serves to emphasize the seriousness of a delay. When choosing alternatives, consider options like "significantly delayed" or "long past due" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. While the phrase is correct, overuse may diminish its impact. Its correct and consistent usage, supported by reputable sources, contributes to its reliability and effectiveness in conveying a critical delay.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly delayed

Emphasizes the degree of lateness, similar to "severely", but with less negative connotation.

substantially overdue

Similar to "severely", but with a slightly more formal tone.

long past due

Highlights that the deadline has been missed for a considerable time.

critically delayed

Highlights that the delay has serious consequences or implications.

considerably late

Focuses on the extent of the delay, akin to "severely" but less formal.

grossly behind

Implies a significant and unacceptable level of lateness.

extremely tardy

Uses a more formal term for lateness, emphasizing the degree of delay.

badly delayed

Similar to significantly delayed but it indicates a lower degree of similarity to 'severely'.

way behind schedule

Indicates a deviation from the planned timeline, implying a significant delay.

far beyond the deadline

Stresses that the expected completion time has been greatly exceeded.

FAQs

What does "severely overdue" mean?

The phrase "severely overdue" means that something is significantly past its due date or deadline. It implies a serious or critical level of lateness.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "severely overdue"?

Use "severely overdue" when you want to emphasize the gravity or urgency of a delay. It's suitable for situations where the lateness has significant consequences.

What are some alternatives to "severely overdue"?

You can use alternatives like "significantly delayed", "long past due", or "considerably late" depending on the context.

Is "severely overdue" formal or informal?

The phrase "severely overdue" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts where a strong emphasis on lateness is needed.