a tombstone of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tombstone of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used metaphorically to refer to something that signifies the end or finality of a situation, often in a historical or literary context. Example: "The abandoned factory stood as a tombstone of the once-thriving industry that had defined the town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Under a tombstone of river water, his Collection was buried, soaked to undecipherable pulp.

The New Yorker

It was a tombstone of a book, heavy, gloomy, and unsettling.

The New Yorker

At the opposite extreme, Page 284 is so crowded with words printed on top of words that you cannot decipher them, except as a vertical slab of black, a tombstone of type, or perhaps (like the photograph on Page 318) a velvety night sky.

The New York Times - Magazine

There is never a cross on a tombstone of a Jew….

Los Angeles Times

The Harper's Song, the lyrics found on a tombstone of the Middle Kingdom and on Papyrus Harris 500 from the New Kingdom, was to be performed for dinner guests at formal banquets.

Wikipedia

Two swords of Karim Khan Zand have gold-inlaid inscriptions which refer to the: "... celestial lion... pointing to the astrological relationship to the Zodiac sign of Leo... ...... Another record of this motif is the Lion and Sun symbol on a tombstone of a Zand soldier.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"We're not putting a tombstone on top of them and saying, 'Rest in Peace.' These are ideas we can still engage".

Vice

In 1973, Alice Walker made a pilgrimage to Eatonville, Florida, to place a tombstone on the unmarked grave of the African-American writer and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston.

The New Yorker

He had been looking into the cost of a tombstone for his wife and himself and had found that it was going to be very expensive.

The New Yorker

Another memorial, designed for a dissident who had been officially denied a tombstone, consists of a stencil-cut of a funerary inscription that can be temporarily but repeatedly applied to the site of the grave.

The New York Times - Arts

The Tan Chay Wa's tombstone trial was a sequence of unusual events regarding an inscribed tombstone of a political dissident, Tan Chay Wa, that sparked a court case in Singapore in 1983.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a tombstone of" when you want to convey a sense of finality or the end of something significant, especially when implying a metaphorical death or cessation.

Common error

Avoid using "a tombstone of" in purely literal senses where a simple description would suffice. This phrase works best when conveying a sense of metaphoric death or ending, so don't use it to just describe a graveyard.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tombstone of" functions primarily as a metaphorical descriptor, often acting as a noun phrase that attributes a symbolic quality of finality or memorialization to another noun. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is both correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tombstone of" is a correct and usable phrase as Ludwig AI confirms, functioning as a metaphorical descriptor used to convey a sense of finality or memorialization. Examples show its prevalent use in News & Media and Wiki contexts, with a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure it is applied metaphorically to enhance the emotional depth of your writing and to avoid literal, less impactful applications. Alternatives like "a monument to" or "a symbol of demise" may be considered based on the specific nuance desired. This phrase, though not exceptionally common, is useful for invoking a sense of closure or the end of something significant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a marker of the end

Explicitly denotes the termination of something.

a symbol of demise

Directly indicates decline or end.

an emblem of closure

Suggests the completion or resolution of something.

a monument to

Focuses on remembrance and honor rather than the end.

a memorial to

Centers on remembrance and commemoration.

a sign of obsolescence

Emphasizes being out of date or no longer useful.

a testament to the past

Highlights historical significance rather than conclusion.

a chronicle of the fall

Details a period of decline or downfall.

a lasting reminder of

Focuses on the enduring impact or memory.

an enduring memento of

Highlights an object that serves as a reminder of the past.

FAQs

How can I use "a tombstone of" in a sentence?

Use "a tombstone of" to describe something that symbolizes the end or memorializes a significant loss or conclusion. For example, "The abandoned factory became "a tombstone of" the town's industrial past".

What does "a tombstone of" metaphorically mean?

Metaphorically, "a tombstone of" represents the end or cessation of something. It suggests that whatever it describes is a final marker or reminder of something that is no longer active or alive, such as an era, a relationship, or an industry.

What phrases are similar to "a tombstone of"?

Similar phrases include "a monument to", "a symbol of demise", or "a marker of the end". These alternatives also convey a sense of conclusion or memorialization.

When is it appropriate to use "a tombstone of" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "a tombstone of" when you want to add a dramatic or poignant effect, emphasizing the finality or the somber nature of the conclusion of something significant. It is suitable for literary or descriptive writing where symbolism enhances the message.