willful negligence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "willful negligence" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct term is "willful misconduct" or "gross negligence," which refers to a conscious disregard for the safety or reasonable treatment of others. Example: "The court found the defendant guilty of willful misconduct for ignoring safety regulations."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Those of us living with substance use disorders and mental health issues surely do not have a monopoly on sickness and suffering, nor are we the only ones whose lives will be jeopardized by the willful negligence of the American Health Care Act and the politicians who support it.

Huffington Post

Beyond the apparent inability to detect any pattern, a question of willful negligence has been raised.

The New York Times

As we began to ask questions of Juárez officials, we unearthed utter incompetence at best, and willful negligence at worst.

The New York Times

The Federal Railroad Administration could impose fines of up to $20,000 if willful negligence of safety regulations is found, said George A. Gavalla, the agency's associate administrator for safety.

The New York Times

In that case, he said, families of the 270 victims were released from the Warsaw limit when they convinced a court that the airline had shown willful negligence, but the new treaty does not require such a finding.

The New York Times

They found willing puppets in the Republican party, but alas, they overestimated the competence of their cronies, in relation to the privatization of the Iraq war, the willful negligence in the hunt for bin Laden, and the need for public monies to provide safety and reconnaissance after Katrina.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

I will not tolerate such willful intellectual negligence.

Huffington Post

"It's not willful neglect.

The New York Times

Willful neglect.

WikiHow

State health officials, however, will pass on findings of willful misconduct or negligence to the attorney general's office.

The New York Times

"It's willful and intentional negligence," Ms. James said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where someone intentionally fails to fulfill a duty of care, consider using the term "willful misconduct" or "gross negligence" as these are legally recognized and more accurate.

Common error

Avoid using "willful negligence" as it's not standard English. Instead, distinguish between negligence (unintentional failure to exercise care) and misconduct (intentional wrongdoing). If the action is intentional, "willful misconduct" is appropriate; if it's a severe lack of care, use "gross negligence".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "willful negligence" functions as a noun phrase, where "willful" modifies "negligence". However, as Ludwig AI points out, the phrase isn't standard English. It's often used to describe a situation involving failure to exercise due care, but "willful misconduct" or "gross negligence" are the more appropriate terms.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "willful negligence" is used to describe a lack of due care that appears intentional or reckless. However, standard English usage and legal contexts often favor the terms "willful misconduct" or "gross negligence". Ludwig AI flags the phrase as not correct, suggesting that while the intent is understood, the execution is grammatically unsound. When writing, it's best to use the more precise and legally recognized terms to ensure clarity and accuracy. As examples show, there is a tendency for usage in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intentional neglect

Emphasizes the deliberate nature of the failure to care.

conscious disregard

Highlights an awareness of the risk coupled with a decision to ignore it.

deliberate oversight

Focuses on the conscious act of overlooking or ignoring something important.

reckless indifference

Implies a careless attitude towards potential consequences.

willful blindness

Suggests a deliberate avoidance of knowledge to evade responsibility.

gross carelessness

Emphasizes a significant deviation from reasonable standards of care.

calculated disregard

Focuses on the calculated or planned decision to ignore safety or well-being.

criminal neglect

Highlights the severity of the neglect, potentially warranting legal consequences.

intentional dereliction

Focuses on the deliberate abandonment of duty.

purposeful abandonment

Emphasizes intention behind the act of deserting or forsaking something.

FAQs

Is "willful negligence" grammatically correct?

No, the standard English terms are "willful misconduct" or "gross negligence". "Willful negligence" is not a recognized legal or common term.

What's the difference between negligence, gross negligence, and willful misconduct?

Negligence involves a failure to exercise reasonable care, while gross negligence is a severe departure from that standard. "Willful misconduct" implies intentional wrongdoing or a conscious disregard for safety.

What can I say instead of "willful negligence"?

Depending on the context, consider using "willful misconduct", "gross negligence", "intentional disregard", or "deliberate negligence".

In what situations might the term "willful misconduct" be more appropriate than "gross negligence"?

Willful misconduct is more appropriate when there's evidence of intent or deliberate action, while gross negligence describes extreme carelessness without necessarily implying intent.