a smile of joy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a smile of joy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a smile that expresses happiness or delight, often in contexts related to positive emotions or joyful moments. Example: "When she received the good news, a smile of joy spread across her face."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He told his mother, who smiled "a smile of joy that comes from knowing a loved one is at peace and with God".

The New York Times

Asad has a slight smile, but it should not be mistaken for a smile of joy — it's a smile of sadness, confusion, defeat, resignation.

The New York Times

And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The woman in a beautiful pale yellow satin dress and a gray-blue blouse turns toward the viewer with a smile of ineffable joy.

The New York Times - Arts

At the bottom of the steps she stands waiting, with a smile of ineffable joy, an attitude of matchless grace and dignity.

TechCrunch

"I don't think when the numbers are released in January you are going to see many [retail bosses] with a big smile of joy".

The Guardian - Business

He showed them a smile of relief and pure joy.

Los Angeles Times

I stood in awe and wonder, reverence and astonishment, elation and perplexity; a profound sadness and an irresistible smile of infinite joy took possession of me simultaneously in a moment that seemed to last for ever.

Independent

Count Rostov dances the Daniel Cooper at a ball, and "all who were in the ballroom looked with smiles of joy at the merry old man".

The New Yorker

I long for the good old days, when our pop princesses had to at least be born to host the MTV Awards, and our gifted DNA strands played sports simply for the joy of it, in neighbourhood parks, radiant smiles of joy on their nucleotides.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

On Thursday, surrounded by somber relatives, Mr. Suriel spoke briefly about Nicole, who, he said, was "born with a smile," took joy in the good news of others and felt pain when bad things happened to them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "a smile of joy" when you want to emphasize the genuine happiness behind a smile. It's particularly effective in describing moments of pure, unadulterated joy.

Common error

Avoid using "a smile of joy" excessively in formal or professional writing. While appropriate in descriptive narratives, consider more nuanced expressions like "a pleased expression" or "a satisfied demeanor" for business communications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a smile of joy" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a specific type of smile characterized by the emotion of joy. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

16%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a smile of joy" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for expressing happiness, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. While it's not exceedingly common, it appears across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When seeking alternatives, consider variations like "a joyful smile" or "a delighted smile" for subtly different nuances. While effective in many descriptive contexts, reserve this phrase for moments needing a clear emotional highlight, and avoid overuse in professional writing. Remember that the phrase is a noun phrase that's most authoritative usages come from sources like The New York Times, BBC, and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a joyful smile

Reverses the structure, placing emphasis on the quality of the smile itself.

a happy smile

Uses a more general term for happiness, slightly reducing the intensity.

a delighted smile

Emphasizes the feeling of delight as the source of the smile.

a gleeful smile

Indicates a more exuberant and unrestrained joy.

a beaming smile

Focuses on the radiant and expressive quality of the smile.

a radiant smile

Highlights the bright and luminous aspect of the smile.

a blissful smile

Suggests a deep sense of contentment and happiness.

a pleased smile

Expresses satisfaction and contentment.

a gratified smile

Implies a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction of desires.

a contented smile

Suggests a state of peaceful happiness and satisfaction.

FAQs

How can I use "a smile of joy" in a sentence?

You can use "a smile of joy" to describe someone's expression when they feel happy, like "A smile of joy lit up her face when she heard the good news".

What are some alternatives to "a smile of joy"?

Alternatives include "a joyful smile", "a happy smile", or "a delighted smile depending on the nuance you want to convey".

Is there a difference between "a smile of joy" and "a joyful smile"?

While both phrases convey happiness, "a smile of joy" emphasizes the emotion (joy) as the cause of the smile, whereas "a joyful smile" ("a joyful smile") highlights the quality of the smile itself.

When is it appropriate to use "a smile of joy"?

It's suitable for describing moments of genuine happiness and delight, especially in descriptive or narrative writing. However, in formal contexts, consider using more professional alternatives like "a pleased expression".