a false sense of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a false sense of" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a belief or understanding that is based on incorrect information or assumptions. For example: "The politician's exaggerated claims created a false sense of security among the citizens."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's a false sense of reality".

The New York Times

They create a false sense of certainty.

The New York Times

Beware a false sense of safety.

Cornell University

"Why create a false sense of legality?

The New York Times

Lull us in to a false sense of security?

The Guardian - Sport

It might be a false sense of security.

The Washington Post

"It may have given us a false sense of hope".

The New Yorker

Was I getting a false sense of security?

The New York Times

Mass surveillance, he continued, "gives a false sense of security.

The New Yorker

He creates a false sense of belief in his players.

The New York Times - Sports

It produces a false sense of unity," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a false sense of", ensure you clearly identify what the false sense pertains to. For example, instead of just saying "it created a false sense", specify "it created a false sense of security".

Common error

Avoid using "a false sense of" as a cliché. Always consider whether it accurately describes the situation or if a more nuanced phrase would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a false sense of" functions as a determiner and adjective modifying a noun, typically referring to an abstract concept such as security, hope, or confidence. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in describing misleading perceptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a false sense of" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe an inaccurate or misleading perception of something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from reputable sources, including news media, academic texts, and scientific publications. It is important to use this phrase precisely, clearly identifying what the "false sense" pertains to. While versatile, it's crucial to avoid overuse and consider more nuanced phrasing where appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a false understanding of

Replaces "sense" with "understanding", emphasizing a mistaken comprehension.

a wrong sense of

Substitutes "false" with "wrong", highlighting the inaccuracy of the perception.

a misleading sense of

Uses "misleading" to describe the inaccurate perception, focusing on its deceptive nature.

a spurious sense of

Replaces "false" with "spurious", indicating that the sense is not genuine or authentic.

a deceptive sense of

Uses "deceptive" to describe the inaccurate perception, emphasizing its intention to mislead.

a misguided sense of

Replaces "false" with "misguided", highlighting that the sense is based on poor judgement.

a false feeling of

Substitutes "sense" with "feeling", focusing on the emotional aspect of the perception.

a false impression of

Replaces "sense" with "impression", emphasizing the initial or superficial understanding.

a false concept of

Replaces "sense" with "concept", highlighting a mistaken idea or belief.

a false perception of

Replaces "sense" with "perception", focusing on the sensory or cognitive process of understanding.

FAQs

How can "a false sense of" be used in a sentence?

You can use "a false sense of" to describe a mistaken belief or feeling. For example, "The marketing campaign gave consumers a false sense of hope about the product's capabilities."

What's a good alternative to "a false sense of"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a false understanding of", "a misleading sense of", or "a spurious sense of".

Is it correct to say "false sense about" instead of "a false sense of"?

While understandable, "a false sense of" is the more grammatically standard and widely accepted phrasing. Using "about" is less common and might sound awkward to some native English speakers.

What's the difference between "a false sense of" and "a misguided sense of"?

"A false sense of" generally indicates an inaccurate perception, while "a misguided sense of" suggests that the perception is based on poor judgement or reasoning. The former is about accuracy, the latter about the rationale behind the perception.