a certain passion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a certain passion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific but not explicitly defined enthusiasm or strong feeling about something. Example: "She approached her art with a certain passion that was evident in every brushstroke."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Maybe it's a certain passion that's required.

The New York Times

He has observed a certain passion in other chief executives, he said.

The New York Times

Style is important, but you have to play with a certain passion.

The Guardian - Sport

"I can bring a certain passion to an important debate by seeing first hand the conditions of apartheid," he said.

The New York Times

It is important to understand why people travel, to fulfil the wish of a certain passion," he added.

The Guardian

I'll admit that I watched Iain Duncan Smith on Andrew Marr after he resigned, and for the briefest moment, thought I could see a certain passion, albeit misguided.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

She spends the first hour or so of her solitary journey as she usually spends some time after a parting from him — balancing signs of affection against those of impatience, and indifference against a certain qualified passion.

The New York Times - Books

Rolling Stones Vince Aletti criticized Leon Ware's production for being too low-key, and perceived that Gaye lacks the certain passion in his lyricism and singing from his previous records.

Wikipedia

* Fear of Intimacy -- The reason many couples fall out of love is because they stop treating each other with a certain respect, warmth, attraction, passion and affection that makes up what we refer to as romantic love.

Huffington Post

I was looking to my marriage for all, or for most, of my passion, and I thought motherhood could bring a certain kind of passion.

Independent

Their owner, Butch Rivers, 70, a former stunt rider who now uses a cane — "You pay for it," he says of certain passions — is excited to see the play again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a certain passion" when you want to indicate enthusiasm or strong feeling without explicitly defining or quantifying it. It adds an element of understated emphasis.

Common error

Avoid using "a certain passion" as a crutch to avoid describing the actual source or nature of the passion. While it's useful for general references, providing more detail strengthens your writing and makes it more engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain passion" functions as a noun phrase, where "certain" modifies the noun "passion". It characterizes a particular but unspecified enthusiasm or strong feeling towards something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a certain passion" is a versatile phrase used to express enthusiasm or strong feeling without explicit detail. As Ludwig AI affirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly found across diverse contexts, particularly in news, academic, and science-related content. While effective for indicating general enthusiasm, it's best to provide more specific details when possible to enhance clarity. Remember to use "a certain passion" when you want to imply enthusiasm or strong feeling without being overly descriptive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a definite passion

Replaces "certain" with "definite", implying a more pronounced and less ambiguous passion.

a distinct passion

Uses "distinct" instead of "certain", suggesting a passion that is easily noticeable and clear.

a particular zeal

Substitutes "passion" with "zeal", indicating a more fervent and dedicated enthusiasm.

a specific enthusiasm

Replaces "passion" with "enthusiasm", making the feeling more about excitement than deep emotion.

a marked eagerness

Uses "marked eagerness", emphasizing the visible and notable quality of being keen and enthusiastic.

a notable fervor

Replaces "passion" with "fervor", implying a passionate intensity, and "certain" with "notable", adding emphasis.

a palpable drive

Changes "passion" to "drive", focusing on the motivational aspect, while "palpable" suggests it's strongly felt or easily perceived.

a tangible enthusiasm

Modifies "enthusiasm" with "tangible", emphasizing its real and perceivable nature.

an unmistakable ardor

Replaces "passion" with "ardor", denoting intense devotion or eagerness, and "certain" with "unmistakable", underscoring its clarity.

a recognizable dedication

Substitutes "passion" with "dedication", focusing on commitment, while "recognizable" suggests it is apparent to others.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a certain passion" in a sentence?

Use "a certain passion" to describe an enthusiasm or strong feeling without needing to specify its exact nature. For example, "She approached the project with "a certain passion", evident in her dedication."

What are some alternatives to "a certain passion"?

You can use alternatives like "a definite passion", "a distinct passion", or "a particular zeal" to convey similar meanings with slight differences in emphasis.

Is "a certain passion" formal or informal?

"A certain passion" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, more specific descriptors might be preferable in formal writing to provide greater clarity.

When is it appropriate to use "a certain passion" instead of a more descriptive phrase?

Use "a certain passion" when you want to imply enthusiasm or strong feeling without delving into specifics, or when the exact nature of the passion is understood or implied in the context.