a dry spring

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a dry spring" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a spring season characterized by little to no rainfall, often affecting agriculture or the environment. Example: "Farmers are concerned about the impact of a dry spring on their crops this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Poor growing conditions may include a dry spring and summer that did not enable the trees to produce a good crop, especially when irrigation is not used, and in soils that have poor moisture retention to begin with.

WikiHow

Pushed it all back and pinned her together again".On top, for Mr Webb, come the grain-dryer for the contractors' wheat and barley, ("no rapeseed this year, thank God in a dry spring it bolts like lettuce") and bringing in the big bales of straw.

The Economist

It was a dry spring.

The New York Times

And he said a dry spring would also prevent many of the mosquitoes from surviving.

The New York Times

That, coupled with drip irrigation, which he installed a few years ago, helped the garlic sail through a dry spring.

The New York Times

"The hiking here is great, but I wouldn't have wanted to haul a full pack over the mountains only to reach a dry spring".

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

A cold spring and a dry summer in 1931 meant disaster.

The New Yorker

Epidemics are rare, and often occur when a rainy spring is followed by a dry summer [ 1- 5].

BMC Veterinary Research

"It's been a dry summer and really hot," said Fallsburg Police Lt. John Calvello.

The New York Times

Though it has been a dry summer, the lawns have maintained their green.

The New Yorker

Not only is the Eastern Seaboard feeling the effects of a dry fall and winter, but those are just the latest dry seasons in a dry spell that began in 1998.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing agricultural impacts, follow "a dry spring" with details on specific crop effects or water management strategies. For example, "A dry spring forced farmers to implement irrigation measures earlier than usual."

Common error

Avoid attributing all spring-related problems solely to "a dry spring" without considering other factors like late frosts or soil composition. Acknowledge the complexity of environmental impacts for accurate reporting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dry spring" functions as a noun phrase, with "dry" acting as an adjective modifying "spring". Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a dry spring" is a grammatically correct and understandable phrase used to describe a spring season characterized by a lack of rainfall. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness. While its frequency is classified as uncommon, it appears across diverse contexts, including news reports, scientific articles, and general knowledge resources. When using this phrase, consider providing further context regarding the specific impacts of the dry conditions and remember to explore similar phrases like "arid springtime" or "rainless spring season" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arid springtime

Replaces "dry" with "arid" to emphasize extreme dryness and "spring" with "springtime", a synonymous term.

rainless spring season

Explicitly states the absence of rain during the spring season.

a parched spring

Uses "parched" to convey the dryness and suggests the land is thirsty.

spring drought

Condenses the phrase to a compound noun indicating a drought occurring in spring.

desiccated spring

Employs "desiccated" to highlight the thorough dryness and lack of moisture.

a spring of scarce rainfall

Specifies that the spring season is characterized by a limited amount of rainfall.

drought-ridden spring

Indicates that the spring is severely affected by drought conditions.

a spring lacking moisture

Directly states the absence of moisture during the spring.

an unnaturally dry spring

Adds "unnaturally" to emphasize that the dryness is unusual or unexpected.

a withered spring

Uses "withered" to describe the spring as weakened and dried up, implying negative effects on vegetation.

FAQs

How does "a dry spring" impact agriculture?

A dry spring can lead to reduced crop yields, increased irrigation needs, and potential water restrictions for farmers. It can also affect the types of crops that can be successfully grown during that season.

What are some synonyms for "a dry spring"?

You can use terms such as "arid springtime", "rainless spring season", or "a parched spring" to convey a similar meaning.

What causes "a dry spring"?

A dry spring is caused by weather patterns that result in less precipitation than average during the spring months. This can be due to changes in atmospheric pressure, altered jet stream patterns, or other climatic factors.

How does "a dry spring" affect local ecosystems?

A dry spring can negatively affect plant growth, reduce water availability for wildlife, and increase the risk of wildfires. It can also impact the timing of seasonal events like insect emergence and bird migration.