a great ear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a great ear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has a good ability to hear and understand music, sounds, or nuances in conversation. Example: "As a musician, she has a great ear for melody and can easily identify different notes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Music

Dialogue

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Comedy takes a great ear.

The New Yorker

And he has a great ear.

The New York Times - Books

Mr. Wexler had a great ear for musical talent.

The New York Times - Books

"John has a great ear for dialogue," he says.

The Guardian

"A talented guy with an impressive r?m?nd a great ear," Mr. Penn said.

The New York Times

He is a craftsman with a great ear for dialogue and a storyteller's sensibility.

The Guardian - Books

Finally, Mr. Blier has a great ear, for music and for text.

The New York Times

But a great ear for dialogue does not make a great play.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The grandson of an orthodox Jew from Eastern Europe, Isaac is the first in his family to be born in Britain and his parents are fiercely proud of him, a young man with a great comic ear and with a yearning to write sketches for television.

BBC

But then she became a superstar so I had great ears all of a sudden.

The Guardian

Ryan Needham and Liza Violet – who are joined by a revolving cast of bandmates, including producer and guitarist MJ of Hookworms – are expert pasticheurs with great ears for a melody and an arrangement.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a great ear" to describe someone's ability to discern subtle differences in sound, music, or language. For instance, "The sound engineer has "a great ear" for detecting background noise."

Common error

Avoid using "a great ear" solely to describe physical hearing ability. It typically implies a deeper understanding or sensitivity to sound beyond just being able to hear well.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a great ear" typically functions as a noun phrase that describes a person's ability to perceive and understand subtle differences in sounds, music, or language. Ludwig AI confirms this through its examples, showcasing its versatility across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Music

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a great ear" is an idiom used to describe someone with a remarkable ability to distinguish and understand subtle differences in sound. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and discussions related to music and dialogue. While it's often associated with musical talent, its scope extends to language and general auditory perception. To avoid misuse, remember that it implies a deeper understanding beyond mere physical hearing ability. Use it to praise someone's refined auditory skills, and you'll strike the right note.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an excellent sense of hearing

Focuses more on the physical ability to perceive sound.

a keen sense of pitch

Emphasizes the ability to accurately discern musical tones.

a fine musical sensibility

Highlights an appreciation and understanding of music beyond just hearing.

a gift for identifying melodies

Highlights the innate ability to recognize and remember tunes.

a good understanding of rhythm

Specifies the comprehension of rhythmic patterns and structures.

a knack for mimicry

Focuses on the ability to replicate sounds and accents accurately.

a sensitivity to sound

Focuses on the perceptive and responsive nature to auditory stimuli.

a talent for detecting nuances

Emphasizes the ability to notice subtle details and variations.

an ability to discern subtle differences

Focuses on the capacity to distinguish fine distinctions between sounds or speech.

an aptitude for languages

Highlights the ability to quickly learn and understand new languages.

FAQs

How can I use "a great ear" in a sentence?

You can use "a great ear" to describe someone who is good at distinguishing subtle differences in sound, music, or language. For example: "She has "a great ear" for accents and can easily mimic them."

What are some alternative ways to say "a great ear"?

Alternatives include "an excellent sense of hearing", "a keen sense of pitch", or "a fine musical sensibility", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say someone has "a great ear" for dialogue?

Yes, it's perfectly correct. "A great ear" for dialogue implies that someone is skilled at recognizing and replicating natural-sounding conversations, making their writing or acting more realistic.

What's the difference between "a great ear" and "good hearing"?

"Good hearing" refers to the physical ability to hear sounds clearly, while "a great ear" implies a refined ability to distinguish nuances in sound, music, or language. One can have good hearing without having "a great ear".