a wave of emotion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a wave of emotion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sudden and intense feeling that overwhelms someone, often in contexts related to feelings of joy, sadness, or nostalgia. Example: "As she watched the final scene of the movie, a wave of emotion washed over her, bringing tears to her eyes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

And there are new things, such as a wave of emotion can move you to tears.

The Guardian - Music

He added: "It could help them: they're riding a wave of emotion and excitement.

The New York Times - Sports

The Orange came into the weekend with a wave of emotion.

The New York Times - Sports

Sabry's death also sparked a wave of emotion on social media.

The Guardian

Tommy Fleetwood stepped on to the 1st tee at this, the 42nd Ryder Cup, riding a wave of emotion.

The Guardian - Sport

Argentina are riding a wave of emotion, emerging as the neutral's favourite, that will be hard to stop.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

I was then taken over by a wave of emotions.

The Guardian

She said she had been feeling a wave of emotions since returning home — grateful to be reunited with her three children, but also shaken.

The New York Times

On a block where fish restaurants have come and gone with the tides, the changeover at Louie's set off a wave of emotions.

The New York Times

When you experience sexism or sexual harassment, it's common to feel a wave of emotions wash over you – fear, anger, embarrassment, shame, and often shock or panic.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For the staff members of The Times, the resignations yesterday set off a wave of emotions from sadness to relief, and prompted several dozen journalists from competing news organizations to stake out the entrance of its headquarters, at 229 West 43rd Street.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a wave of emotion" to describe situations where someone is suddenly and strongly affected by a feeling, whether it's happiness, sadness, or another intense emotion.

Common error

Be mindful not to use "a wave of emotion" when describing mild or indifferent feelings. The phrase is best suited for expressing intense and overwhelming experiences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a wave of emotion" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object in a sentence. It describes a sudden and intense feeling or reaction. Ludwig AI shows its prevalent use across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Sport

22%

Lifestyle

11%

Less common in

Opinion

5%

Tech

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a wave of emotion" is a common and effective phrase used to describe being suddenly overwhelmed by a strong feeling. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and most frequently found in news and media, sport, and lifestyle content. When using this phrase, be sure to apply it to contexts involving intense emotional experiences, and consider alternatives like "a surge of feeling" or "a flood of emotion" for subtle variations in meaning. Avoid using it for mild or indifferent feelings to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a surge of feeling

Replaces "emotion" with "feeling" and "wave" with "surge", indicating a sudden powerful experience.

a rush of sentiment

Substitutes "emotion" with "sentiment" and "wave" with "rush", suggesting a swift, overwhelming feeling.

a flood of emotion

Replaces "wave" with "flood", emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the emotion.

a tide of feeling

Uses "tide" instead of "wave", highlighting a gradual increase and decrease in emotional intensity.

an outpouring of emotion

Replaces "wave" with "outpouring", stressing the expression or release of emotion.

a storm of feelings

Uses "storm" instead of "wave," suggesting a turbulent and chaotic emotional experience.

a groundswell of emotion

Replaces "wave" with "groundswell", indicating a gradual buildup of emotion from a large group or population.

a burst of feeling

Changes "wave" to "burst", emphasizing a sudden and intense emotional release.

a pang of emotion

Replaces "wave" with "pang", highlighting a sharp, sudden feeling.

a tremor of emotion

Uses "tremor" instead of "wave", suggesting a subtle but noticeable emotional shift.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a wave of emotion" in a sentence?

Use "a wave of emotion" to describe a moment when someone is suddenly overcome by strong feelings. For example, "A wave of emotion washed over her as she listened to the heartfelt speech."

What are some alternatives to "a wave of emotion"?

You can use alternatives like "a surge of feeling", "a flood of emotion", or "an outpouring of emotion" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a wave of emotions" grammatically correct, or should I use "a wave of emotion"?

"A wave of emotion" is generally preferred when referring to a singular, overwhelming feeling. "A wave of emotions" can be used when referring to multiple distinct feelings experienced in quick succession.

What's the difference between "a wave of emotion" and "a surge of emotion"?

While both phrases describe a sudden onset of feeling, "a wave of emotion" suggests a more sweeping and encompassing experience, whereas "a surge of emotion" implies a more abrupt and intense burst.