woe

USAGE SUMMARY

'woe' is a correct and usable word in written English.
'Woe' is typically used as an interjection to express distress or lamentation. Example sentence: "Oh woe, my keys were locked in the car!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I listen to their story of woe, try to offer ideas, and secretly resolve that next time I'll pretend I'm a film director instead.

The Guardian

The bowling attack will hope a winter of white-ball woe can turn around once they get a red cherry back in their hands in the Caribbean.

The Guardian - Sport

More often than not there will be a tale of woe to be told, with plenty of visits to the hotel named Heartbreak.

The Guardian - Sport

The BBC is still the great benchmark of broadcasting and woe betide anybody who interferes with the BBC".

The Guardian

One woman stopped the socialist People Before Profit candidate, Richard Boyd Barrett, with a tale of personal woe.

The Guardian

How many more tales of woe from young people with no foot on the ladder, afraid that after a year or two a new generation fresh from school and college will be preferred to them?

The Guardian - Opinion

Punch magazine would personify graveyard miasma, in doggerel, as 'The Vampyre (NO SUPERSTITION)', ('To work vengeance and woe is his mission of dread. Upon those mid the living who bury their dead').

The Guardian

And woe betide anyone evil enough to think about feeding their baby formula milk.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Or maybe all those tales of woe from flyers are weighing on Mr O'Leary's conscience?

The Economist

This time they may really do it Lords of woe Pressing the north to let the south go ReprintsIt was not to be.

The Economist

Mr Scholes thinks much of the blame for the recent woe should be pinned not on economists' theories and models but on those on Wall Street and in the City who pushed them too far in practice.Financial firms plugged in data that reflected a "view of the world that was far more benign than it was reasonable to take, emphasising recent inputs over more historic numbers," says Mr Scholes.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "woe" to add emotional depth when describing situations of significant sorrow or misfortune. It can effectively convey a sense of lament or deep regret in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "woe" in situations that are only mildly disappointing or inconvenient. Its strong connotation of deep sorrow can seem exaggerated or inappropriate for trivial matters.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "woe" is as a noun, denoting grief, sorrow, or misery. Ludwig AI examples showcase its use in describing states of distress, such as "economic woe" or "tales of woe".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "woe" functions primarily as a noun to express profound sorrow or misfortune. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently encountered in news and media, often in contexts that describe economic hardship or personal suffering. While versatile, it's best reserved for situations genuinely deserving of lament, as overuse can diminish its impact. Consider alternatives like "sorrow" or "misery" for nuanced expression. While Ludwig indicates its correctness, context remains key to appropriate use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sorrow

Focuses on the feeling of sadness or regret caused by loss or disappointment.

misery

Emphasizes a state of great unhappiness or suffering.

suffering

Highlights the experience of enduring pain or hardship.

distress

Implies a state of anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

grief

Specifically refers to deep sorrow, especially that caused by someone's death.

affliction

Highlights a state of pain, suffering, or distress.

calamity

Refers to an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster.

adversity

Focuses on difficult or unlucky situations or events.

hardship

Emphasizes severe suffering or privation.

tribulation

Implies great trouble or suffering.

FAQs

How can I use "woe" in a sentence?

"Woe" is often used to express deep sorrow or lamentation. For example, "The country suffered economic "woe" after the crisis."

What are some alternatives to "woe"?

Alternatives to "woe" include "sorrow", "misery", and "grief", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "woe" in formal writing?

Yes, "woe" can be used in formal writing to add emotional weight to descriptions of suffering or misfortune. However, consider the tone and audience to ensure it fits appropriately.

What is the difference between "woe" and "sorrow"?

"Woe" often implies a more active expression of grief or lament, while "sorrow" generally refers to the feeling of sadness itself. "Woe" can be seen as the outward manifestation of "sorrow".