a smudge of light

USAGE SUMMARY

"a smudge of light" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a small, faint, or blurry source of light. For example: - The only source of light in the room was a smudge of light coming through a crack in the curtains. - As the sun began to set, a smudge of light remained on the horizon. - She could just make out a smudge of light in the distance, signaling the end of the tunnel.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Robinson clearly understands how to make a smudge of light glow against a dark background, how to negotiate winter's tandem essences of threat and beauty.

The New York Times - Books

It is a smudge of light only a tiny fraction of the size of our own Milky Way galaxy, and it existed when the universe was only 480 million years old.

The New York Times - Science

For most of the 70 years since Clyde Tombaugh first discovered it in 1931, Pluto has been nothing more than a smudge of light even through the most powerful telescopes.

Huffington Post

I'm not sure what his camera was capturing, but from what I could see on his screen (which I could see the entire time, since it was held above his head much of the night), it was a smudge of light, two football fields away, with some ants singing and dancing to music of the same sound quality as that scratchy cassette that used to bleed through the speakers of my old Mustang.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In the top left-hand corner of the aptly named Hubble Ultra­ Deep Field image (re-­released by Nasa a few months before) is a small red smudge of light called UDFj­39546284, made from light that's traveled through space for most of the history of the universe.

The Guardian

Combing through Galaxy Zoo, an online database set up to enlist the public's help in classifying galaxies, she came across a glowing green smudge of light approximately 650 million light-years away.

Science Magazine

You can then, optionally, add a very light matte brown shade into the crease to add some extra definition and a smudge of brown eyeliner (very light and very thin) to the upper lash line just to thicken the eyelash line.

WikiHow

Like TS Eliot's "still point of the turning world" (Burnt Norton), the spotted flycatcher is a blur of brown light: a smudge of wings, striated breast, pencil-point beak and eye shiny beetle black – stilled.

The Guardian

In that instance, the single smudge of light would contain signs of both reactive gases.

Science Magazine

I was holding my son in the cold, looking at the lights of my city and a smudge of moonlight beneath the clouds and the outline of the mountains I'd grown up with, same as ever.

The Guardian

(When I was a little boy, my father took me to see "City Lights" and dressed me as Chaplin for Halloween, complete with a smudge of burned cork under my nose).

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a smudge of light" when you want to convey a sense of something barely visible or indistinct, often in contrast to a darker background or surrounding area. It's effective in descriptive writing to evoke a particular mood or visual image.

Common error

Avoid using "a smudge of light" in formal or technical writing where precision is paramount. Opt for more specific and quantifiable terms to describe light intensity or visibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a smudge of light" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object within a sentence. It describes a visual phenomenon—a small, indistinct area of illumination. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a smudge of light" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a faint, indistinct source of light. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples from reputable sources, predominantly in news and media. While the phrase isn't extremely common, it's appropriately used in descriptive writing to create a specific visual image. Alternatives include "a glimmer of light" and "a faint light". It's best practice to reserve this descriptive phrase for contexts where a sense of indistinctness is desired and to avoid it in technical writing where precision is key.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a glimmer of light

Focuses on the faintness or shimmering quality of the light.

a flicker of light

Emphasizes the unsteady or intermittent nature of the light.

a trace of light

Highlights the minimal amount of light present.

a hint of light

Suggests a subtle or indirect presence of light.

a faint light

Directly describes the light as weak or indistinct.

a dim light

Similar to faint light, but can also imply poor visibility.

a soft glow

Focuses on the gentle and diffused quality of the light.

a weak beam of light

Emphasizes the feeble nature of the light's projection.

a blurred light

Highlights the lack of clarity or focus of the light source.

a tiny spark of light

Emphasizes the small size and potential for growth or significance.

FAQs

How can I use "a smudge of light" in a sentence?

You can use "a smudge of light" to describe something barely visible or indistinct. For example: "The only source of light was "a smudge of light" on the distant horizon."

What are some alternatives to "a smudge of light"?

Alternatives include "a glimmer of light", "a faint light", or "a hint of light", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "a smudge of light" a formal or informal expression?

"A smudge of light" leans toward informal and descriptive writing. In technical or scientific contexts, more precise language would be more suitable.

What imagery does "a smudge of light" evoke?

The phrase "a smudge of light" typically evokes imagery of something faint, indistinct, and potentially obscured, often set against a darker background. It can create a sense of mystery, distance, or fragility.