a divided life

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a divided life" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a life that is split between different roles, responsibilities, or aspects, often implying a sense of conflict or duality. Example: "After years of balancing work and family, I feel like I am living a divided life, constantly torn between my career ambitions and my personal commitments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

FAROKH MEHDIAN, a maker of custom home furnishings, like draperies and tablecloths, has a divided life.

The New York Times

For an urbane expat leading "a divided life" between London and Mumbai, the enormous, luxurious variety of cuisines lumped together as "Indian" provides inspiration.

The New Yorker

He wrote with incomparable irony about the bizarre workings of the film industry in his two volumes of autobiography, Notes for a Life (1974) and A Divided Life (1992).

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Once August Weismann had divided life into a perishable soma and immortal germ line, the soma began to be viewed as disposable.

Aging

Growing up in a Dublin suburb in the 1950's and 60's, Hugo Hamilton wore lederhosen and an Aran sweater, clothes that were emblematic of his divided life as the son of a German mother and an Irish father.

The New York Times - Books

Just as she gets close to it, however, it is ruined, dissolving into a gauche pastiche too similar to her own divided life in the States".

Wikipedia

No," Ms Cabot said of her divided life.

The New York Times

"Living this divided life allowed them to move on".

The New Yorker

Bomba is how we do it and how we teach younger generations to cope with that divided life".

The New York Times

In 1840, the British geologist John Phillips divided life into three chapters: the Paleozoic (from the Greek for "ancient life"), the Mesozoic ("middle life"), and the Cenozoic ("new life").

The New Yorker

Erikson divided life span into eight stages.

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a divided life" to effectively convey the sense of being torn between conflicting roles, responsibilities, or identities. This phrase adds depth and nuance to your writing, especially when exploring themes of identity, conflict, and personal struggle.

Common error

Avoid using "a divided life" when simply describing a busy schedule. This phrase carries a connotation of internal conflict or significant separation, and using it for mundane situations dilutes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a divided life" acts as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object in a sentence. It describes a state of existence characterized by significant separation or conflict, as seen in Ludwig's examples where individuals balance different roles or cultures.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a divided life" is a grammatically sound phrase used to portray a life characterized by significant separation or conflict, as validated by Ludwig AI. While it appears more frequently in news and media, its usage extends to science and formal business contexts. When writing, consider alternatives like "a life of duality" or "a conflicted existence" to add nuance, but avoid overusing it in simplistic situations. This phrase is valuable for expressing the complexities and tensions of balancing multiple roles or identities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a life of duality

Focuses on the dual nature of existence, emphasizing the presence of two distinct aspects.

a conflicted existence

Highlights the internal struggle and opposing forces within a person's life.

a life torn between two worlds

Emphasizes the struggle of belonging to two different environments or cultures.

a bifurcated life

Uses a more formal term to describe a life split into two distinct parts.

a life of divided loyalties

Highlights the conflict arising from commitments to different people or causes.

a fragmented existence

Suggests a life that is broken into many pieces, lacking coherence.

a life straddling two cultures

Implies a life where someone lives between and connects two distinct cultures.

a double life

Emphasizes the secrecy and deception involved in leading two separate lives.

a life of contrasting realities

Highlights the stark differences between the various aspects of one's life.

a life in two halves

Simply describes a life literally divided in two separate and distinct segments.

FAQs

How can I describe a life split between two cultures?

You can use the phrase "a life torn between two worlds" or "a life straddling two cultures" to describe the experience of living in and navigating two different cultural environments.

What's a more formal way to say "a divided life"?

A more formal alternative is "a bifurcated life", which emphasizes the separation into two distinct parts.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a double life" instead of "a divided life"?

Use "a double life" when emphasizing secrecy and deception, suggesting that someone is leading two separate and concealed existences. "A divided life" doesn't necessarily imply deception.

Can "a divided life" describe internal conflicts?

Yes, "a divided life" can effectively describe internal conflicts, where a person experiences opposing desires, values, or identities. It highlights the sense of being pulled in different directions.