stinging letter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stinging letter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a letter that is sharply critical or hurtful in tone. Example: "After receiving the stinging letter from her former colleague, she felt compelled to respond with her own thoughts on the matter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Mark Lewis, the lawyer who was paid £20,000 in libel damages last year by the Press Complaints Commission chairman, Baroness Buscombe, has written her a stinging letter today.

The Guardian

Finally on Thursday, the culture minister of France, Frédéric Mitterrand, wrote Ms. Faucon a belated but stinging letter, speaking of "my incomprehension and my disapproval" of the cancellation and noting that the chain received government subsidies to encourage diversity of programming.

The New York Times

The wily French foreign minister, Vergennes, was understandably eager to deal only with Franklin, and by July 1780 he had exchanged enough strained correspondence with Adams that he felt justified in sending him a stinging letter that declared, "The king did not stand in need of your solicitations to direct his attentions to the interests of the United States".

The New York Times

I was just quoted saying that in the press and he wrote me a stinging letter telling me that if I took his money I didn't have the right to say he wasn't nice to me, and of course he was right, and I apologized".

The New York Times

The piece, which referred to "widely differing" Turkish and Armenian positions, prompted Peter Balakian, a professor of humanities at Colgate, and Samantha Power, the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book "A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide," to write a stinging letter to the editor.

The New Yorker

WASHINGTON -- Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele's already rocky tenure got even more turbulent on Tuesday after the committee's political director quit his post and then penned and leaked a stinging letter rebuking his former boss.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

His purplish eloquence makes him an entertaining correspondent, and Mr. Margolick's book is liveliest when drawing directly on Burns's stinging letters.

The New York Times - Books

Though Nicole avoided any direct reference to him, Racine believed that he was the object of Nicole's wrath and responded with a stinging open letter entitled Lettre à l'auteur des Hérésies imaginaires et des deux visionnaires (1666; "Letter to the Author of the Pretended Heresies and the Two Enthusiasts").

Encyclopedia Britannica

Edelman broke publicly with the White House in November, publishing a stinging open letter to Clinton in the Washington Post: "What a tragic irony it would be for this regressive attack on children and the poor to occur on your watch," she wrote.

The New Yorker

The letter is a stinging indictment of the council's approach, which the signatories believe will "decimate the cultural life of the city".

BBC

Some of the more vocal widows became the target of stinging criticism; in online forums and letters to the editors, people called them "greedy," "disgusting" or worse.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "stinging letter", ensure the context clearly establishes the recipient and the reasons for the strong criticism. The phrase is most effective when the intensity of the critique is significant and intended to have a strong impact.

Common error

Avoid using "stinging letter" for minor disagreements or feedback. This phrase implies severe censure; using it inappropriately can diminish the impact of genuine, strongly worded criticisms and make your communication seem hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stinging letter" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "stinging" modifies "letter." It describes a letter characterized by its sharp, biting, or hurtful tone. This is supported by Ludwig AI's analysis and the examples provided, which consistently depict letters that deliver harsh criticism or rebuke.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science & Research

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stinging letter" effectively describes a written message characterized by sharp criticism. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. The phrase primarily functions to convey strong disapproval in contexts such as news, media, and encyclopedias. When employing "stinging letter", it's crucial to ensure the criticism's intensity warrants the phrase, avoiding overuse in mild situations. Alternatives like "harshly worded letter" or "scathing letter" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance. As Ludwig shows, understanding the impact and appropriate context is key to wielding this phrase effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harshly worded letter

Replaces "stinging" with "harshly worded", focusing on the severity of the language used in the letter.

pointed letter of condemnation

Replaces "stinging" with "pointed" and adds "of condemnation", focusing on a letter that sharply expresses strong disapproval.

bitterly critical letter

Replaces "stinging" with "bitterly critical", emphasizing the resentful or cynical nature of the critique within the letter.

cuttingly critical note

Substitutes "stinging letter" with "cuttingly critical note", indicating a brief message that is sharply and directly critical.

caustic message

Replaces 'letter' with a broader term 'message' and 'stinging' with 'caustic', indicating a severely critical or sarcastic tone.

acerbic written critique

Replaces "stinging letter" with "acerbic written critique", emphasizing a sharp and biting style of criticism that is formally documented.

scathing reprimand in writing

Substitutes "stinging letter" with a more formal "scathing reprimand in writing", highlighting the severe disapproval conveyed through a written medium.

acrimonious written rebuke

Replaces "stinging letter" with "acrimonious written rebuke", highlighting the bitterness and resentment expressed in a formal written form.

vitriolic correspondence

Uses "vitriolic correspondence" to replace "stinging letter", indicating extremely bitter or venomous content in the communication.

incendiary missive

Replaces 'letter' with 'missive' and 'stinging' with 'incendiary', suggesting the message is designed to provoke or inflame.

FAQs

How can I use "stinging letter" in a sentence?

You can use "stinging letter" to describe a letter that contains harsh criticism, for example: "The manager sent a "stinging letter" to the employee for their repeated tardiness."

What are some alternatives to "stinging letter"?

Alternatives include "harshly worded letter", "scathing letter", or "bitterly critical letter", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What makes a letter qualify as a "stinging letter"?

A "stinging letter" is characterized by its intensely critical or reproachful tone, often employing sharp language to express strong disapproval or condemnation.

Is it appropriate to send a "stinging letter" in a professional context?

While a "stinging letter" can be effective in certain situations, consider whether a more tactful approach might be more appropriate in a professional setting. A "harshly worded letter", or a direct conversation, might be better alternatives.