a material expression of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a material expression of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a tangible or physical representation of an idea, concept, or feeling. Example: "The sculpture serves as a material expression of the artist's inner turmoil and creative journey."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

On the one hand, the process of campization is a material expression of the stabilization of a state of emergency and temporality.

Comparative Migration Studies

Most obviously there is its price, but that's only a material expression of its more elusive qualities; that air of sophistication and luxury, magic, celebration and above all, romance that are its real asset.

Forbes

This strong reading was reinforced in China by indigenous Confucian and Daoist conceptions of a thing's nature (xing, 性) as dispositional and of the world as an auto-poetic or self-creating (ziran, 自然) system of continually-evolving relational patterns (dao, 道)—not a divine creation, an objective determinant of universal physical laws, or a material expression of transcendent principles.

SEP

The bonus is being targeted as a villainous currency, a material expression of uncontainable executive greed.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

As the historian James Buchan put it, "Edinburgh's New Town is intriguing not merely as a suite of handsome buildings, but as the material expression of ideas of civilian life".

The Guardian

A doctor described the disparity between what society expects physicians to have and what they can afford on government wages, and another referred to the judgement that physicians face based on their material expression of wealth and therefore status: A simple thing like taking the bus, they say 'look at that doctor, he is so cheap'.

Human Resources for Health

The imagined tower may have bristled with new technology, but the material expression of Tatlin's vision was only ever a matter of the handmade and the human scale.

The Guardian - Books

"They are the material expression of the most secret rites, passed down from one generation to the next.

The New York Times - Arts

Historians who believe in the possibility of popular reengagement with American places are now trying to interest the public in historic and contemporary sites as the material expression of culture and politics.

University of Pennsylvania

Admire the extraordinary collection at the Adachi Museum of Art near Matsue, whose gardens are considered "living Japanese paintings". In Gyeongju, South Korea, see the Buddhist Bulguksa Temple, which symbolizes the material expression of Buddhist utopia on Earth, and the ancient Silla Kingdom Royal Burial Mounds.

Columbia University

He is currently conducting research on material expression of Catholic death culture, such as memento mori and holy relics.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a material expression of" when you want to emphasize the tangible or physical form that an abstract idea, concept, or feeling takes. For instance, "The building's architecture is "a material expression of" the city's history and cultural values."

Common error

Avoid using "a material expression of" in purely abstract contexts where a physical manifestation is not relevant. Opt for alternatives like "an indication of" or "a sign of" when discussing non-physical concepts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a material expression of" functions as a noun phrase modifier. It serves to describe or characterize a noun by specifying that it is a physical or tangible representation of something else. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase correctly indicates a concrete or physical representation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a material expression of" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English used to denote a tangible or physical representation of an abstract concept. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not overly common, the phrase appears in various contexts, including science, news media, and academia, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure that the context genuinely involves a physical manifestation rather than a purely abstract relationship. If you want to use alternative phrasings, consider using "a physical manifestation of", or "a tangible representation of", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a physical manifestation of

Emphasizes the tangible, physical form that something takes.

a tangible representation of

Highlights the concrete, touchable quality of the representation.

a concrete embodiment of

Focuses on the solid, real nature of the embodiment.

a visible demonstration of

Stresses the observable, apparent nature of the demonstration.

a palpable illustration of

Highlights the easily felt or perceived nature of the illustration.

a manifest display of

Emphasizes the clear, obvious showing of something.

a substantial form of

Indicates a considerable or significant form that something takes.

a realized version of

Focuses on the completed or achieved state of something.

a tangible outcome of

Highlights that the tangible things came out as an end result of a process

a physical rendering of

Focuses on the transformation of something into a physical form

FAQs

What does "a material expression of" mean?

It refers to a physical or tangible representation of something abstract, such as an idea, emotion, or concept.

How can I use "a material expression of" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe how something intangible is represented in a physical form. For example: "The artwork is "a material expression of" the artist's grief."

What are some alternatives to "a material expression of"?

Alternatives include "a physical manifestation of", "a tangible representation of", or "a concrete embodiment of".

Is it appropriate to use "a material expression of" in a formal context?

Yes, the phrase is suitable for formal contexts, especially in academic or analytical writing, where you need to precisely describe the relationship between an abstract concept and its physical representation.