a sixth sense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sixth sense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an intuitive ability to perceive things that are not immediately obvious, often associated with extrasensory perception or heightened intuition. Example: "She always seemed to know when something was wrong; it was as if she had a sixth sense about people's emotions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

They possess a sixth sense called taste.

The New York Times

You needed a sixth sense.

The New York Times - Sports

It's an awareness; it's a sixth sense".

The New York Times - Sports

It's like having a sixth sense.

The Guardian - Tech

It's almost like a sixth sense.

The Guardian

Rose's fear of missing out functions like a sixth sense.

The New Yorker

A gut decision is not arbitrary, or a sixth sense.

The Economist

He has a vision that is almost a sixth sense.

The New York Times - Sports

"I must have a sixth sense about these things.

The New Yorker

It is as if the Redskins had a sixth sense.

The New York Times - Sports

Folks with a sixth sense, a sense of security.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In narrative writing, keep the expression metaphorical unless you are specifically writing about the paranormal to avoid confusing the reader's expectations.

Common error

Do not omit the indefinite article 'a' when referring to the general concept. Saying 'He has sixth sense' sounds non-native; the correct phrasing is 'He has a sixth sense'.

How to use

Learn how to use "a sixth sense" with practical examples and tips.

How to use

Linguistic Context

As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase "a sixth sense" primarily functions as a noun phrase typically serving as the direct object of verbs like 'have', 'possess' or 'develop'. It acts as a collective label for inexplicable but accurate perceptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academic

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a sixth sense" is a robust and sophisticated way to describe human intuition and expert judgment. According to Ludwig, it is frequently used in elite media to characterize everything from a athlete's vision to a chef's taste. While often associated with the paranormal in fiction, its real-world usage is grounded in describing extraordinary professional competence or heightened awareness. It is grammatically correct, highly versatile and carries a positive connotation of skill and instinct. Whether you are writing a profile, a news report or a novel, it remains one of the most effective ways to describe the 'ineffable' quality of human perception.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intuitive insight

uses more formal, academic terminology

gut feeling

offers a more casual and physically-rooted idiom

extrasensory perception

provides the literal/scientific term for the concept

keen instinct

focuses on biological or survival-based drive

preternatural ability

emphasizes that the skill seems to go beyond natural laws

heightened awareness

describes the state of perception rather than the 'sense' itself

innate knack

suggests a natural talent or skill rather than a perception

internal radar

uses a mechanical metaphor for detection

uncanny judgment

focuses on the accuracy of the result rather than the mechanism

subconscious perception

attributes the ability to the part of the mind below awareness

FAQs

How to use "a sixth sense" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe intuition, as in "The experienced pilot had <a href="/s/a+sixth+sense" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a sixth sense for changes in weather conditions."

What can I say instead of "a sixth sense"?

Depending on the tone, you could use "<a href="/s/intuitive+insight" target="_blank" rel="alternative">intuitive insight" for formal contexts or "<a href="/s/gut+feeling" target="_blank" rel="alternative">gut feeling" for everyday speech.

Is "a sixth sense" a formal expression?

It is considered neutral. It appears frequently in prestige journalism like <a href="/s/The+New+York+Times" target="_blank" rel="alternative">The New York Times but might be replaced by "<a href="/s/subconscious+cognition" target="_blank" rel="alternative">subconscious cognition" in a strict scientific paper.

What is the difference between "a sixth sense" and "intuition"?

While often interchangeable, "<a href="/s/intuition" target="_blank" rel="alternative">intuition" is the standard psychological term, while "a sixth sense" is more figurative and implies a perception that feels as real as sight or hearing.