a stark reality — harsh truth
collocationC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
a situation or fact that is unpleasant, difficult, or impossible to ignore, often because it is so clear or severe.
Say it like a native
Textbook This represents a harsh and unembellished actuality of the present circumstances.
Native That's the stark reality of the situation.
'Unembellished actuality' is purple prose; 'the stark reality of' is the natural pairing.
Pattern: a stark reality (that) + clause / noun phrase
In use
- After losing his job, he was faced with the stark reality of having to support his family with no savings.daily life
- Many young people dream of owning a home, but the stark reality is that property prices are simply unaffordable for most first-time buyers.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ It's a stark realty.
✓ It's a stark reality.
It's 'reality', not 'realty' (which means property).
Common collocations
the stark reality of— of, face, the, is that
Don't confuse it
Unlike simply saying 'the reality', 'a stark reality' stresses how obvious and harsh the situation is. It is not used for minor problems or neutral facts.