a thread of light

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a thread of light" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a narrow beam or line of light, often evoking imagery of hope, guidance, or illumination in a metaphorical sense. Example: "As the storm clouds parted, a thread of light broke through, illuminating the path ahead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When I looked down, I saw my body lying there with a thread of light that attached my spirit to my body.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He saw it as the culmination of a thread of longing -- "light in time of darkness" -- running through his work.

The New York Times - Arts

Recently, a thread of tweets was made praising lighter or racially ambiguous women and degrading darker-skinned women on Twitter, accompanied by a photo of women on a spectrum of skin tones.

HuffPost

The girl is impressed by the warmth of Ralph's family & particularly by the thread of light, easy laughter that seems to run through everything.

The New Yorker

Muslims during this holy month fast from the first thread of light at dawn to sunset abstaining from all food and water.

HuffPost

The ability to zap light down a thread of glass was first mastered in the 1850s, largely for experimental purposes.

Forbes

Her playful experiments with ordinary indoor lamp lighting reflect her ever-curious nature, and contain a thread of childlike simplicity.

Vice

Is a thread of irony at work?

The New York Times

15 1 A THREAD OF GRACE, by Mary Doria Russell.

The New York Times

A thread of #Coachella highlights thus far.

Huffington Post

Draw a thread of events together.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a thread of light" to evoke a sense of delicate connection or a subtle source of hope or guidance in your writing. It works particularly well in descriptive or metaphorical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "a thread of light" to describe overly bright or powerful light sources. The phrase implies subtlety and delicacy, so it's less effective for describing, for example, the sun.

Linguistic Context

A thread of light functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a narrow or faint source of illumination. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is both correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a thread of light" is grammatically sound and frequently used to depict a narrow or faint source of light, carrying connotations of hope or guidance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Analysis of its usage reveals that it is most common in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts. While versatile, it is crucial to use the phrase judiciously, avoiding overuse in purely literal scenarios, as it is more effective when evoking a sense of subtlety. Alternatives like "a ray of hope" or "a glimmer of light" can provide nuanced variations for similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a thin line of light

Adds "thin line" to provide a more literal description of the shape and form of light.

a delicate ray of light

Adds "delicate ray" to emphasize the fine and gentle nature of the light.

a glimmer of light

Substitutes "thread" with "glimmer", emphasizing a faint or unsteady light.

a beam of light

Replaces "thread" with "beam", suggesting a more focused and intense source of light.

a stream of light

Changes "thread" to "stream", depicting light as a continuous flow.

a ray of hope

Replaces "light" with "hope", shifting the focus to a metaphorical source of optimism rather than literal illumination.

a streak of light

Changes "thread" to "streak", indicating a rapid and linear flash of light.

a shaft of light

Replaces "thread" with "shaft", portraying light as a descending column or beam.

a whisper of light

Substitutes "thread" with "whisper", imbuing the light with a sense of subtlety and quietness.

a faint glimmer of hope

Combines the notions of faint light and hope to convey a sense of fragile optimism.

FAQs

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

You can use "a thread of light" to describe a narrow or faint beam of light, often in a metaphorical sense. For example, "As she looked up, "a thread of light" pierced through the dark clouds."

What can I say instead of "a thread of light"?

You can use alternatives like "a ray of hope", "a glimmer of light", or "a beam of light" depending on the context.

Is "a thread of light" a common expression?

"A thread of light" is a relatively common expression, often used in literature and descriptive writing to convey a sense of hope, guidance, or subtle illumination.

What imagery does "a thread of light" evoke?

"A thread of light" often evokes imagery of something fragile, delicate, and tenuously connected, suggesting a sense of hope in a dark or uncertain situation.