a terrible sight

USAGE SUMMARY

"a terrible sight" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is unpleasant, shocking, or distressing to the senses. For example, "The scene of the car accident was a terrible sight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Crolla made a terrible sight.

The Guardian - Sport

It was a terrible sight, it was a terrible loss".

Independent

I had seen nothing but fear & hunger--an overriding hunger--and it was a terrible sight".

The New Yorker

"Riot police clearing the steps of St Paul's Cathedral was a terrible sight," Mr. Fraser said Tuesday.

The New York Times

We drove back toward Checkpoint 20 and came upon a terrible sight.

The New York Times - Magazine

The silent relatives grouped around the entrances to hospitals or wandering the streets with their photographs was a terrible sight.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

It's a truly terrible sight.

The Guardian

A terrible mess.

The New Yorker

"There were a lot of terrible sight lines".

The New York Times - Sports

Tahir does political intrigue very well, paints her villains in various shades of grey, and shows us the terrible sight of a populace crushed by slavery.

The Guardian - Books

But darkness had spared me the most terrible sight for any sailor – a ship's final lurch below the waves when the ocean floods inside and gets her down forever.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a terrible sight" to vividly describe situations that evoke strong negative emotions, such as scenes of accidents, disasters, or profound suffering.

Common error

Avoid using "a terrible sight" too frequently in your writing. Vary your descriptions with more specific and nuanced language to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a terrible sight" functions primarily as a descriptive phrase, acting as a noun phrase that describes something unpleasant or shocking. It provides a subjective assessment of a visual scene. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable structure.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a terrible sight" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that effectively conveys a negative emotional response to something visually disturbing or unpleasant. According to Ludwig, its primary function is descriptive, aiming to evoke feelings of shock or sorrow. It maintains a neutral register and appears frequently in news and media, as well as academic and business contexts. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "a horrifying scene" or "a dreadful vision". When using the phrase, remember to avoid overuse and consider the specific context to ensure the most impactful and nuanced description.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an awful spectacle

Replaces 'terrible' with 'awful' and 'sight' with 'spectacle', emphasizing the visual aspect and negative impact.

a horrifying scene

Uses 'horrifying' to intensify the negative emotion and 'scene' to focus on a specific event or situation.

a dreadful vision

Substitutes 'terrible' with 'dreadful' and 'sight' with 'vision', suggesting a more profound or disturbing image.

a ghastly view

Replaces 'terrible' with 'ghastly' and 'sight' with 'view', implying something shockingly unpleasant.

a disturbing image

Uses 'disturbing' to highlight the unsettling nature and 'image' to focus on a mental representation.

a shocking scene

Emphasizes the surprise and negative impact using 'shocking' instead of 'terrible'.

a grim spectacle

Implies a depressing or serious atmosphere using 'grim' instead of 'terrible'.

an appalling view

Replaces 'terrible' with 'appalling' to convey a sense of disgust or outrage.

a harrowing experience

Shifts the focus from the visual to the overall emotional impact, using 'harrowing' to describe a distressing ordeal.

a tragic scene

Conveys a sense of sorrow and loss, focusing on the unfortunate nature of the event.

FAQs

How can I use "a terrible sight" in a sentence?

You can use "a terrible sight" to describe something visually shocking or upsetting. For example, "The aftermath of the storm was "a terrible sight"."

What are some alternatives to "a terrible sight"?

Alternatives include "a horrifying scene", "a dreadful vision", or "a ghastly view", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "a terrible sight" formal or informal?

"A terrible sight" is generally considered neutral in register and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "a terrible sight" and "a tragic scene"?

"A terrible sight" focuses on the visual aspect being unpleasant or shocking, while "a tragic scene" emphasizes the sorrowful and unfortunate nature of the situation.