a faint memory of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a faint memory of" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe a distant or unclear recollection of something. Example: "As she walked through the familiar streets of her childhood neighborhood, she was flooded with a faint memory of playing with her friends in the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

A faint memory of some not entirely appealing smoked tomato is all that remains of this opening stage of hostilities.

Independent

The pajama legs hung listless from the line, now and then giving a little ripple as if in a faint memory of the dance they'd performed.

The New Yorker

I have a faint memory of an article I read some years back detailing the grim life of a shelf picker in an Amazon warehouse.

The New York Times - Style

"The Little Foxes," to theatre buffs; "Lifeboat," to film buffs; a faint memory of a rowdy life and a purring drawl of a voice.

The New Yorker

When the alarm on my cellphone woke me the next morning, I had a faint memory of having panicked during the night, that I had gotten up abruptly from the bed, unable to remember where the children were.

The New York Times - Magazine

When I got the press release, I had a faint memory of another Cash-themed graphic novel; a search of my hard drive, and then of the Internet, confirmed my suspicions.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It was at this time that I first interviewed him for the Observer, a brief encounter now freighted in my mind with delight, sadness, and regret mingled with a fugitive, faint memory of some lovely ironies.

The Guardian - Books

When I read the news this week that Susumu Yokota had passed away on March 27th after a long struggle with illness, there was little more than a faint memory pinging off in the back of my head.

Vice

In the end, the impact on gene expression in cancer cells is massive and the normal epigenetic programming of the healthy cell becomes merely a faint memory.

British Journal of Cancer

Like a faint memory, we feel we know it intimately but have no sense of its size, its scale, or its design.

Vice

Within the Army, and in the world of medical research, the secret clinical trials are a faint memory.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a faint memory of" when you want to convey that your recollection of something is not clear, detailed, or strong. It's suitable for describing experiences or events that happened long ago or didn't leave a significant impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a faint memory of" when you actually suspect the memory might be inaccurate or fabricated. A faint memory is simply unclear, while a false memory is a distorted or completely invented recollection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a faint memory of" functions as a noun phrase acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a recollection that is weak, unclear, or distant. Ludwig examples show it preceding verbs like 'have' and being used to describe past experiences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Vice

15%

The New Yorker

5%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Huffington Post

1%

British Journal of Cancer

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a faint memory of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a vague or unclear recollection. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, and its meaning is well-established. When using the phrase, it's important to ensure that you are indeed referring to a memory that is unclear rather than one that is false or fabricated. Alternatives like "a vague recollection of" or "a dim memory of" can be used to express similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a vague recollection of

Replaces "faint memory" with "vague recollection", emphasizing the lack of clarity.

a dim memory of

Uses "dim" instead of "faint", suggesting a similar sense of obscurity.

a fleeting memory of

Replaces "faint" with "fleeting", highlighting the briefness of the memory.

a distant memory of

Emphasizes the remoteness in time of the memory.

a hazy memory of

Substitutes "faint" with "hazy", implying a lack of sharpness and detail.

a blurred memory of

Replaces "faint" with "blurred", suggesting a lack of clarity.

a shadowy memory of

Uses "shadowy" to convey a sense of mystery and incomplete recollection.

a pale memory of

Substitutes "faint" with "pale", emphasizing the weak impression the memory leaves.

a weak memory of

Replaces "faint" with "weak", highlighting the fragility of the memory.

a ghost of a memory of

Uses a more figurative expression to describe an almost non-existent memory.

FAQs

How can I use "a faint memory of" in a sentence?

You can use "a faint memory of" to describe a vague or unclear recollection, like "I have "a faint memory of" visiting that place as a child".

What's the difference between "a faint memory of" and "a strong memory of"?

"A faint memory of" indicates an unclear or weak recollection, while "a strong memory of" suggests a clear and vivid recollection.

What can I say instead of "a faint memory of"?

Alternatives include "a vague recollection of", "a dim memory of", or "a fleeting memory of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a faint memory of" formal or informal?

The phrase "a faint memory of" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it's more commonly used in writing than in casual conversation.