a left of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a left of" is not standard or correct in written English.
It may be intended to describe a position or direction but lacks clarity and proper usage. Example: "The store is located a left of the park."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The "Time to Move On" campaign is being co-ordinated by Compass, a left of centre pressure group.

Independent

Overall, Britons are marginally more likely to describe their personal political stance as a "left of centre" (36%) than "right of centre" (33%).

The Guardian

DeGale responded with a left of his own with his punches seeming to hold more power and the round ended with a left uppercut from the British champion.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

On Sirius XM Satellite Left, a subscriber-based channel for a left-of-center audience, where she began working eight years ago, she inveighed against illegal immigrants and turned viciously critical of President Obama.

The New York Times

I propose a left-of-centre takeover.

The Guardian

It was a left-of-centre, loony idea.

The Guardian

Patricia is a left-of-centre, high-powered executive in a company in the Paris suburbs.

Independent

The NDP occupies a left-of-centre position, advocating an extension of the welfare state.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"All hope is lost," wailed the Guardian, a left-of-centre British newspaper.

The Economist

Compass, a left-of-centre think-tank, is running an End Legal Loan-Sharking campaign.

Independent

This was published in the New Statesman, a left-of-centre publication.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity and grammatical correctness, replace the phrase "a left of" with more standard alternatives such as "to the left of" or "on the left side of."

Common error

Avoid using "a left of" as it doesn't correctly function as a prepositional phrase. Use established prepositions like "to" or "on" to clearly indicate the position.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a left of" attempts to function as a preposition indicating a position relative to something else. Ludwig AI notes that it is non-standard. Standard prepositional phrases like "to the left of" properly convey spatial relationships.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a left of" is a non-standard prepositional phrase, as identified by Ludwig AI, aiming to indicate the position of something relative to another object. While it appears sparingly in sources like news articles and encyclopedias, its grammatical incorrectness and ambiguity make it less desirable for formal or precise communication. For greater clarity and correctness, replace "a left of" with phrases such as "to the left of" or "on the left side of". These alternatives ensure your writing remains grammatically sound and easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to the left of

Replaces the ambiguous "a left of" with a standard prepositional phrase indicating position.

on the left side of

Provides a more explicit and grammatically correct alternative for indicating location.

on the left-hand side of

Offers a slightly more verbose but grammatically sound alternative.

leftward from

Suggests movement or direction originating from a specific point on the left.

to the west of

Indicates a direction relative to the cardinal direction, which assumes a horizontal orientation.

on the larboard side of

Uses nautical terminology for 'left side', which is appropriate in maritime contexts.

west of

Suggests direction toward the west.

to the port of

Employs a formal direction instruction when used with directions relative to a vessel or aircraft.

at the left of

Replaces with more suitable term.

portside of

Replaces the ambiguous "a left of" with the term portside in nautical terminology.

FAQs

What is the correct way to indicate something is positioned to the left?

Use the phrases "to the left of" or "on the left side of" instead of "a left of". For example, instead of "The store is a left of the park", say "The store is "to the left of" the park".

Is "a left of" grammatically correct?

No, "a left of" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's best to use alternatives such as "to the left of" or "on the left side of" for clear and correct communication.

What are some alternatives to indicate direction or location on the left?

Besides "to the left of" and "on the left side of", you can also use terms like "on the left-hand side of" or, in nautical contexts, "portside of".

When would it be appropriate to use the term "left" in a directional context?

Use "left" as an adjective (e.g., "the left side") or in established phrases like "to the left". Avoid using it directly after the indefinite article "a" as a preposition.