affect indifference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "affect indifference" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to attempt to describe a state of being indifferent, but the combination of words does not work well together. Example: "His attempt to affect indifference was transparent; everyone could see he cared deeply."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

After all, The Economist routinely writes about the politics and economies of all of these countries, both in our reporting and our leader section; it seems coy to affect indifference when their elections come around.

The Economist

It is also to be noted that the orders of the delay and probability discounting tasks did not affect indifference points in our previous study [ 8].

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The new, HD-friendly title sequence on The Simpsons has been variously greeted with delight, dismay and affected indifference.

The Guardian

Watching her speak to her the students, hugely enthusiastic in the face of their affected indifference, the adjectives I write in my notebook are "fearless" and "gung-ho".

The Guardian - Arts

Though he affected indifference to his craft and claimed to be averse to work, he was greatly respected by the directors he worked for.

The Guardian - Film

In Pyrmont Road, two young couples, one couple with children, and one single woman with her builder all pass one another in the narrow corridor, moving like unfamiliar cats, affecting indifference but combat ready.

The Guardian - Money

Where Fowler, ever the detached journalist, affects indifference to the Vietnamese struggle, Pyle is a meddling anti-Communist zealot who has no qualms about helping foment resistance to Communist forces by funneling weapons to a ruthless Vietnamese warlord (Quang Hai).

The New York Times

North Korea may, after all, be keen to attract the attention of America, which has recently affected indifference towards it.But Suh Kune-yull, a nuclear engineer at Seoul National University, says the steam might even have been a mistake.

The Economist

Some at the table affected haughty indifference, having already mined the book for dirt on Danielle.

The New York Times - Magazine

Carl was a young black gangster from the Midlands, fond of affecting amused indifference to almost everything.

The Guardian

If you were a part of the counterculture, Ms. Lebowitz observed, you affected an indifference to fashion.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To convey a sense of insincerity or pretense, use stronger verbs like "feign" or "simulate" instead of "affect" when describing indifference. For example, "He feigned indifference to hide his jealousy."

Common error

Avoid using "affect" directly with "indifference" as it can sound awkward. Instead, use verbs that explicitly show the act of pretending, such as "feigning" or "simulating" indifference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "affect indifference" functions as a verb phrase where "affect" (meaning to pretend or assume) modifies the noun "indifference". As Ludwig AI points out, this combination is not grammatically ideal and can be improved by using alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "affect indifference" aims to describe the act of pretending to be indifferent, it is not considered the most grammatically sound or commonly used phrase. Ludwig AI suggests alternatives like ""feign indifference"" or "pretend to be indifferent" for improved clarity and naturalness. The phrase appears rarely, predominantly in news and science contexts. Although its meaning is understandable, opting for stronger, more explicit verbs enhances the quality and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feign indifference

Replaces "affect" with "feign", indicating a false display of indifference.

pretend indifference

Uses "pretend" instead of "affect", suggesting an act of simulating indifference.

display indifference

Employs "display" to denote a showing of indifference, whether genuine or not.

show indifference

Replaces "affect" with "show", implying an exhibition of indifference.

cultivate indifference

Suggests an effort to develop or nurture a feeling of indifference.

assume an attitude of indifference

Uses a longer construction emphasizing the adoption of a particular demeanor.

act with indifference

Focuses on the action of behaving in an indifferent manner.

maintain indifference

Highlights the continuation of a state of indifference.

adopt an air of indifference

Indicates the taking on of a superficial quality of indifference.

simulate indifference

Uses "simulate" to suggest a careful imitation of indifference.

FAQs

What does it mean to "affect" an emotion?

To "affect" an emotion means to pretend or simulate that emotion. It implies that the emotion being displayed is not genuine. For example, one might "feign indifference" to hide their true feelings.

Is it grammatically correct to say "affect indifference"?

While "affect" can mean to pretend, saying "affect indifference" is not the most natural phrasing. It's more common and clearer to use phrases like "feign indifference" or pretend to be indifferent.

How can I use "affect" correctly in a sentence?

Use "affect" to mean to influence or produce an effect on something. For example, "The weather will affect our travel plans." To indicate pretense, consider using alternatives like "feign indifference".

What are some synonyms for pretending or faking an emotion?

Synonyms for pretending or faking an emotion include "feign", "simulate", "dissemble", and "put on a show". For example, instead of saying "He affected happiness", you could say "He feigned happiness".