shrewd advice

USAGE SUMMARY

"shrewd advice" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means wise or cunning advice that is given with great intelligence and understanding. Example: During the difficult negotiations, her father's shrewd advice helped her make the right decisions and secure a favorable outcome.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

He was a fund of shrewd advice and penetrating comment.

Independent

Nowadays, as one representative member of the breed then put it, the only danger is to be out of the market.Well, for that shrewd advice (as Nasdaq tottered at around 5,000), many thanks.

The Economist

Lawrence had brought Oppenheimer into a committee of scientists advising the government about building the bomb, and he offered such shrewd advice on one technical question after another that he became indispensable to the project.

The New York Times - Books

It was shrewd advice because, although Martin moved reluctantly in 1957, she found that her neighbours in lower Manhattan included many of the coming generation: Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Rauschenberg, Robert Indiana, James Rosenquist and Jasper Johns.

The Guardian

Her last volume, Timely Issues, published earlier this year, characteristically contains not only tributes to Hopkins, Traherne and Robert Graves but a poem of shrewd advice "To Any Newish Poet".

The Guardian

One of our sister blogs looks at a book whose advice is still relevant.In direct language, Campbell Davidson dispenses shrewd advice on anything from how to hail a cab in a foreign country to how to treat sunburns (apply sour milk thickly and leave overnight).

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Republicans hoping for a well-timed attack on Vice President Gore will be disappointed; Gergen says Gore "often gave the president some of his shrewdest advice".

The New York Times - Books

It is filled with gritty, shrewd, specific advice on foreign policy ends and means that will be especially useful for a new president and secretary of state without deep experience dealing with the world (although the bulk of the book was clearly written before the world economic calamity of the past months).

The New York Times - Books

Follow Josh and Angus on Twitter for more shrewd financial advice.

Vice

But, despite my inability to appreciate what she'd given me, she never ceased to offer me generous, shrewd and practical advice.

The Guardian - Opinion

Scrolling through Ms. Hamilton's memoir, you'll find this shrewd bit of advice: "Be careful what you get good at doin' 'cause you'll be doin' it the rest of your life".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When offering "shrewd advice", ensure it's tailored to the specific situation and the recipient's capabilities for maximum impact. Consider the potential consequences and long-term effects of the advice.

Common error

Avoid presenting "shrewd advice" as the only viable option. Acknowledge alternative perspectives and potential risks associated with your recommendation. Be open to discussion and refinement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shrewd advice" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "shrewd" modifies the noun "advice". It describes the quality of the advice being offered, highlighting its cleverness and astuteness. Ludwig AI identifies its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shrewd advice" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that signifies insightful, clever, and practical guidance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts, indicating its relevance in describing strategic decision-making and insightful recommendations. While not extremely frequent, the phrase carries a specific nuance, emphasizing the intelligence and astuteness behind the advice. When offering or describing "shrewd advice", it is important to consider its potential impact and to be open to alternative viewpoints. The phrase can be replaced by alternatives like "astute counsel" or "wise guidance", depending on the specific context and the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

astute counsel

Replaces "advice" with "counsel", suggesting more formal and considered guidance. Also replaces the adjective "shrewd" with "astute" which has a similar connotation.

judicious counsel

Similar to "astute counsel", but highlights sound judgment as the main quality, with the synonym "judicious".

wise guidance

Substitutes "shrewd" with "wise", focusing on the quality of being sensible and judicious.

intelligent recommendations

Replaces "advice" with "recommendations", implying a specific suggestion, and "shrewd" with "intelligent", highlighting the smart nature of the recommendations.

prudent recommendations

Emphasizes practicality and foresight, replacing "shrewd" with "prudent", while substituting "advice" with "recommendations", implying a specific suggestion.

clever suggestions

Uses "clever" instead of "shrewd" to emphasize ingenuity and quick-wittedness, while replacing "advice" with the less formal "suggestions".

insightful consultation

Replaces "advice" with "consultation", suggesting a more formal discussion. Also replaces the adjective "shrewd" with "insightful" which has a similar connotation.

smart suggestions

Similar to "clever suggestions", but uses "smart" to indicate general intelligence, while replacing "advice" with the less formal "suggestions".

canny direction

Substitutes "shrewd" with "canny", highlighting carefulness and practicality, while replacing "advice" with "direction", implying guidance towards a specific goal.

perceptive input

Replaces "advice" with "input", suggesting a contribution to a discussion, and "shrewd" with "perceptive", emphasizing understanding and awareness.

FAQs

How can I use "shrewd advice" in a sentence?

You can use "shrewd advice" to describe recommendations that are insightful and clever, such as: "She navigated the complex negotiation with the help of her father's "shrewd advice"." or "His "shrewd advice" saved the company from bankruptcy".

What's a synonym for "shrewd advice"?

Alternatives to "shrewd advice" include "astute counsel", "wise guidance", or "intelligent recommendations", each emphasizing different aspects of insightful guidance.

Is "shrewd advice" formal or informal?

"Shrewd advice" is generally considered neutral in tone. While "shrewd" suggests cleverness and insight, the phrase as a whole is appropriate for both professional and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "shrewd advice" and "good advice"?

"Good advice" is a general term for helpful recommendations. "Shrewd advice" implies a higher level of intelligence, strategic thinking, and understanding of the situation at hand. "Shrewd advice" is not just good, it's also clever.