a sense of disarray

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sense of disarray" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a feeling or perception of disorder or chaos in a situation or environment. Example: "After the sudden departure of the manager, the office was left with a sense of disarray that took weeks to resolve."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Mr. O'Driscoll also created a sense of disarray with the edit itself: he made "bad cuts" intentionally.

The New York Times

But the interior is more toy shop than temple, with crammed shelves and a sense of disarray.

The New York Times - Food

But if I look out from the house and see the gate still open, I'm flooded with a sense of disarray.

The New York Times

The Democrats were meeting here for the first of four regional sessions called by its new Democratic Policy Commission, which was designed to deal with what many in the party have described as a sense of disarray after Walter F. Mondale's landslide defeat by Mr. Reagan in 1984.

The New York Times

"Tough decisions are necessary, but ministers' continued speculation and delay has only heightened uncertainty and a sense of disarray.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The notion that he was through with us produces a sense of profound disarray — such as he, uniquely, might have expressed in art.

The New Yorker

Furthermore, I believe addressing questions of faith is important, especially as a lot of Muslims, such as those fleeing Syria for the West, are experiencing a sense of spiritual disarray on a regular basis.

Vice

There is a sense of panic and disarray around the Death Star, with the usually slick PR operation in crisis after being caught out in some fundamental mistruths, particularly their Brailsford mistakenly suggested that Simon Cope had travelled to La Toussuire to meet Emma Pooley, who had been hundreds of miles away racing in Spain.

The Guardian - Sport

Yet, despite the devastating tableau, Misurata — which became an international emblem of the uprising against Libya's longtime autocratic leader — has already made strides in reclaiming a sense of normality amid the disarray.

Los Angeles Times

Rafael Nadal has launched a withering broadside at the Spanish tennis federation after its president was suspended pending a financial investigation, adding to the sense of disarray enveloping the organisation following Gala León's controversial appointment as the country's first female Davis Cup captain.

The Guardian - Sport

The clashes that followed lit a spark that travelled the length and breadth of the UK, as protesters with long-term grievances and opportunistic looters and arsonists jumped the Olympic gun by a year and used the general sense of disarray to plot their own anarchic torch route.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "a sense of disarray" with specific details to illustrate the nature of the disorder. For example: 'The sudden announcement caused a sense of disarray within the team, with conflicting reports and missed deadlines.'

Common error

Avoid using "a sense of disarray" to describe things that are naturally chaotic or unpredictable. This phrase is best suited for situations where order is expected but absent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sense of disarray" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a feeling or perception of disorder, confusion, or lack of organization. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sense of disarray" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe a feeling or perception of disorder and confusion. Ludwig's analysis confirms its correctness and usability. While not extremely common, it appears most frequently in News & Media contexts, conveying a neutral tone. Consider alternative phrases like "a feeling of disorder" or "a perception of chaos" to fine-tune your message. Remember that this phrase is best employed when something is lacking the expected order and has been disrupted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a feeling of disorder

Replaces "sense" with "feeling", emphasizing the emotional aspect of experiencing disorder.

a perception of chaos

Substitutes "sense" with "perception" and "disarray" with "chaos", highlighting a more extreme form of disorder.

a state of confusion

Replaces "sense of disarray" with "state of confusion", focusing on the mental aspect of the situation.

an atmosphere of disorder

Changes the focus from a personal feeling to the environment, using "atmosphere" instead of "sense".

a climate of disorganization

Similar to atmosphere, "climate" describes the overall environment of disorganization.

a general lack of order

Rephrases the concept as an absence of order rather than a feeling of disarray.

a condition of messiness

Focuses on the physical disarray, using "messiness" to describe the state.

a scene of disruption

Highlights the disruptive nature of the disarray, using "scene" to describe the situation.

a prevalent state of muddle

This shifts to "muddle" as the primary descriptor, suggesting a confused and disorganized situation.

a prevalent state of jumble

Presents a more informal and chaotic state compared to the original query

FAQs

How can I use "a sense of disarray" in a sentence?

You can use "a sense of disarray" to describe a feeling or perception of disorder or chaos. For example, "After the reorganization, there was "a sense of disarray" in the office".

What are some alternatives to "a sense of disarray"?

Some alternatives include "a feeling of disorder", "a perception of chaos", or "a state of confusion" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "a sense of disarray" or "a state of disarray"?

Both phrases are correct, but "a sense of disarray" refers more to the feeling or perception of disorder, while "a state of disarray" describes the actual condition of being disorganized.

What's the difference between "a sense of disarray" and "a sense of urgency"?

"A sense of disarray" describes a feeling of disorder and confusion, while "a sense of urgency" describes a feeling that something needs immediate attention. They describe different emotional responses to different situations.