a sign displaying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sign displaying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a sign that shows or presents information, images, or messages. Example: "The park had a sign displaying the rules for visitors to follow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

A local newspaper, The North County News, ran a cartoon with the caption "The Cane Mutiny," which depicted sneaker-clad elderly citizens waving canes threateningly at a man holding a sign displaying the new policy.

The New York Times

Specifically, three VMS types were evaluated: a sign displaying a message alternately in Finnish and Swedish (2.0 s in each language), a sign displaying the same messages simultaneously, and a sign displaying air and road surface temperatures in Finnish.

Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

The RSA suggested the possible lowering of the speed limit in combination with an awareness campaign and speed limit enforcement, as well as installation of a sign displaying the measured vehicle speeds.

European Transport Research Review

The pictures fade in and out every minute, and each of them is showing a different girl who holds up a sign displaying the current time (to be exact, the models themselves change just every few minutes).

TechCrunch

Feetow awaye Conti on Twitter.

Vice

On January 23, John Murray Clarke, a grandfather who has lived in Burnaby his whole life, carried a sign displaying an enormous blaze.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

A sign displayed by Rick Abraham follow Donald Trump's election.

The New Yorker

A sign displayed the costs of alterations in a menu format: cuff, $8; sleeves, $9.50.

The New York Times

The New Yorker, December 29 , 1945P. 11 Incidental Intelligence: A sign displayed in an uptown Horn & Hardart's reads: "Get Your Coffee and Roll Downstairs".

The New Yorker

"Historically, there's always been an issue with golf and all-male clubs," Squires said, adding that until recently there was a sign displayed at Royal St . Georges that reflected the prevailing attitude.

The New York Times - Sports

A picture caption yesterday with an article about polarization in the Netherlands over the killing of Theo van Gogh, a Dutch filmmaker, by a man the police have described as a Muslim extremist, gave an incorrect translation of a sign displayed at Mr. van Gogh's funeral.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing signs, be specific about what the sign is displaying. For instance, instead of just saying "a sign displaying," specify "a sign displaying the current time" or "a sign displaying safety instructions."

Common error

Avoid simply stating that there is "a sign displaying" something without clarifying what information, image, or message it presents. Provide enough detail to paint a clear picture for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sign displaying" functions as a noun phrase where "a sign" is the head noun and "displaying" acts as a present participle modifying the noun. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with examples from varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a sign displaying" is grammatically correct and serves to describe a sign and its function of presenting information. According to Ludwig, the phrase is most commonly found in news and media and science contexts. While not exceptionally frequent, it's a versatile and clear way to describe a sign's purpose. When using this phrase, remember to specify what the sign is displaying to provide clarity for your reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a sign that displays

Replaces "displaying" with "that displays", creating a relative clause.

a sign showing

Uses "showing" as a simpler and more direct alternative to "displaying".

a sign exhibiting

Substitutes "displaying" with "exhibiting", providing a more formal synonym.

a sign presenting

Replaces "displaying" with "presenting", focusing on the act of showing information.

a sign indicating

Replaces "displaying" with "indicating", suggesting the sign points to something.

a sign with a display of

Restructures the phrase to emphasize the display itself.

a sign featuring

Substitutes "displaying" with "featuring", highlighting the sign's prominent content.

a sign that reads

Changes the focus to the textual content of the sign.

a board displaying

Replaces "sign" with "board", specifying a type of display.

a notice displaying

Substitutes "sign" with "notice", implying a formal announcement.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "a sign displaying"?

You can use alternatives like "a sign showing", "a sign indicating", or "a sign presenting" depending on the context.

How can I make my descriptions with "a sign displaying" more specific?

Instead of saying "a sign displaying", specify what the sign displays, such as "a sign displaying the menu" or "a sign displaying the emergency exits".

What is the difference between "a sign displaying" and "a sign that displays"?

"A sign displaying" is a more concise way to phrase it, while "a sign that displays" uses a relative clause, which can sometimes add emphasis or clarity depending on the sentence structure.

Is it correct to say "a sign displayed" instead of "a sign displaying"?

While "a sign displayed" is grammatically correct, it usually refers to a sign that has already been put up or shown. "A sign displaying" refers to a sign that is currently in the act of showing information.