a gun of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a gun of" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe possession or association, but it lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "He was the owner of a gun of impressive caliber."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

One of the men then pulled a gun of his own and began firing.

The New York Times

He had spoken of serving time in prison, of having a gun, of various exploits.

The New York Times

Cleaver made a gun of a thumb and forefinger and pointed it at his eye.

The New York Times - Magazine

I don't ever remember not having a gun of some kind".

The New Yorker

It was a way of gaining confidence with a gun, of venting your rage on another living creature.

The New York Times

"I don't think there was any plot because the shooter would have used a gun of a larger caliber," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

They can make a gun out of anything.

Huffington Post

He said: "This is a smoking gun of a kind we didn't have before.

Independent

"But you had a gun!" one of the men interrupted.

The New Yorker

Over 5% of students reported carrying a gun, 9% of boys and 2% of girls.

Journal of Adolescence

Clearly there is a smoking gun of some sort.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a gun, opt for more precise language. Instead of "a gun of", use "a gun with" to describe features, or "a gun belonging to" to indicate ownership.

Common error

Avoid using "a gun of" when you mean to specify a characteristic or origin. It's better to clarify the relationship, such as "a gun with a high caliber" instead of "a gun of high caliber".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a gun of" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase attempting to express possession, attribute, or origin. However, it often lacks clarity and requires a stronger verb or preposition for grammatical correctness. Ludwig AI indicates it's not correct and lacks clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

21%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a gun of" appears in various contexts, it's often grammatically weak and lacks clarity. Ludwig AI indicates that it's not entirely correct and requires more precise phrasing. It's better to use alternatives like "a gun with" or "a gun belonging to" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness. The prevalence of this phrase in news and media suggests it's somewhat common, but it is advisable to use more precise language in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a gun belonging to

Specifies ownership of the gun, replacing the less precise "of".

a gun with

Describes a characteristic or feature of the gun.

a gun manufactured by

Indicates the maker of the gun, clarifying its origin.

a gun used by

Indicates who uses the gun, providing context.

the gun's caliber

Focuses on a specific attribute (caliber) of the gun.

the gun's type

Identifies the kind of gun being referred to.

a firearm from

Indicates the origin or source of the firearm.

a rifle from

Indicates that it's specifically a rifle from that source.

a pistol from

Indicates that it's specifically a pistol from that source.

the weapon from

A more generic phrase to indicate that is some type of weapon from a specific source or origin.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "a gun of"?

You can use alternatives like "a gun belonging to", "a gun with", or "a firearm from" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "a gun of"?

While "a gun of" appears in some contexts, it's often grammatically weak and can be improved with more specific phrasing. Alternatives like "a gun belonging to" or "a gun with" are generally clearer.

How to use "a gun of" in a sentence?

While possible, it's better to rephrase for clarity. For example, instead of "a gun of his own", use "a gun belonging to him" or "a gun that he owned".

What's the difference between "a gun of" and "a gun with"?

"A gun of" is vague. "A gun with" specifies a feature or characteristic. For example, "a gun with a scope" is more precise than "a gun of a scope".