a conflation of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a conflation of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the merging or blending of different ideas, concepts, or elements into one. Example: "The article presents a conflation of various theories that attempt to explain the phenomenon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is a conflation of time.

Yale University

It's a conflation of two separate issues.

The New York Times

Basically a conflation of hard-core and normcore.

The New York Times - Arts

"There's a conflation of passion with exposure," she told me.

The New Yorker

Maybe there has been a conflation of badness and toughness.

The Guardian - Music

It is, in a sense, a conflation of modern text messaging and tribal message drumming.

The New York Times

I find that a little bit of a conflation of two separate things.

The Guardian - Film

("Noma" is a conflation of the Danish words for "Nordic" and "food").

The New York Times - Magazine

With its rhyming rectangles and circles, it seems mainly a conflation of realism and abstraction.

The New York Times - Arts

But experts increasingly recognize this as a conflation of two separate things.

The Washington Post

Yet such "post-humanism" rests on a conflation of historical facts and philosophical arguments.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a conflation of" when you want to emphasize that distinct elements have been merged or blended together, sometimes resulting in a blurring of their original boundaries.

Common error

While "a conflation of" is suitable for complex merging, avoid using it for simple combinations where phrases like "a mix of" or "a combination of" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a conflation of" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject complement or object, describing something that results from combining multiple distinct elements. Ludwig provides many examples demonstrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

14%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a conflation of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes the merging or blending of distinct elements, often leading to a blurring of their original boundaries. As affirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is most commonly found in News & Media, Academia, and Scientific contexts. While versatile, it’s best reserved for situations where a complex merging is intended, avoiding overuse in simple combinations. Remember that while alternatives like "a mixture of" or "a combination of" exist, "a conflation of" carries a nuance of distinct elements losing their original identities. When writing, carefully consider whether the situation truly involves a merging of elements or just a simple combination.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a merging of

This alternative highlights the process of elements coming together into a single entity.

an integration of

Focuses on how elements come together to function as a unified system.

a fusion of

This alternative suggests a more transformative combination, where elements lose their individual identities.

a blend of

This alternative implies a smoother, more seamless combination of elements.

a synthesis of

Suggests the creation of something new from combining different element.

a mixture of

This alternative suggests a less integrated combination, implying the elements remain somewhat distinct.

an amalgamation of

Implies a combining or uniting of several entities or concepts into one larger, typically less structured, whole.

a combination of

This alternative is a general term for bringing elements together, lacking the nuance of merging.

a composite of

This alternative denotes something made up of disparate parts or elements.

an interwoven tapestry of

This alternative suggests a complex and elaborate combination, where elements are closely connected and interdependent.

FAQs

How to use "a conflation of" in a sentence?

Use "a conflation of" to describe the merging or blending of different ideas, concepts, or elements into one. For example, "The movie's plot is a conflation of science fiction and fantasy elements."

What can I say instead of "a conflation of"?

You can use alternatives like "a mixture of", "a blend of", or "a combination of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a conflation of" or "a combination of"?

Both phrases are correct, but "a conflation of" implies a merging of distinct elements, potentially blurring their original boundaries, while "a combination of" simply suggests that elements are brought together without necessarily merging.

What's the difference between "a conflation of" and "a fusion of"?

"A conflation of" suggests a blending where the original elements are still somewhat discernible, while "a fusion of" implies a more complete merging where the original elements lose their individual identities.