amidst sobs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "amidst sobs" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is speaking or expressing emotions while crying or sobbing. Example: "She spoke her final words amidst sobs, her voice barely audible through her tears."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many broke into sobs.

The New York Times

Many collapsed into sobs.

The New York Times

Pistorius sobs.

BBC

She nods between sobs.

Los Angeles Times

Some collapsed in sobs.

Los Angeles Times

Amelia was in sobs.

Huffington Post

One morning I found myself on the bathroom floor desperately gulping for air amidst my huge grief-filled sobs stemming from the fear that Donald Trump is going to destroy our democracy, eliminate our civil rights, and could possibly blow up the entire world with nuclear bombs.

HuffPost

Anywho, the numbers really are close this week, but in the end it's Nastasia who bites the big one (35.5), and Laura who returns to the house (35.8) amidst a torrent of her own sobs.

Huffington Post

Cleveland sobs.

The New York Times

Real sobs".

The New Yorker

April P sobs.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "amidst sobs" to add emotional depth to descriptions of speeches, reactions, or moments of intense grief or sadness in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "amidst sobs" in contexts that do not genuinely convey deep sorrow or emotional breakdown, as it can come across as melodramatic or insincere. Choose a more neutral phrase if the situation warrants it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "amidst sobs" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to describe the circumstances under which an action occurs. It indicates that the action is taking place while someone is sobbing. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Huffington Post

17%

The New York Times

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "amidst sobs" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to depict actions occurring during intense crying, according to Ludwig AI. While not frequently used, with most examples found in news articles, it effectively conveys deep emotional distress. When using "amidst sobs", writers should ensure the context genuinely warrants such emotional intensity, avoiding overuse in more neutral scenarios. Related phrases like "through tears" offer similar but subtly different ways to express emotion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

through tears

Focuses on the tears themselves as the medium through which something is expressed.

while weeping

Emphasizes the act of crying as the action occurring simultaneously.

in a flood of tears

Highlights the abundance or intensity of tears.

choked with emotion

Indicates that strong emotion is inhibiting speech.

fighting back tears

Suggests an attempt to suppress crying.

voice breaking with emotion

Specifically refers to the change in vocal quality due to emotional distress.

struggling to speak through tears

Highlights the difficulty in speaking due to crying.

with tears streaming down their face

Describes the visual aspect of crying.

inconsolably crying

Emphasizes the inability to be comforted while crying.

tears welling up

Focuses on the initial stage of crying, where tears are forming.

FAQs

How can I use "amidst sobs" in a sentence?

Use "amidst sobs" to describe someone speaking or acting while they are crying heavily, conveying intense emotion. For example, "She delivered her acceptance speech "amidst sobs" after winning the award".

What are some alternatives to "amidst sobs"?

You can use alternatives like "through tears", "while weeping", or "in a flood of tears" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "amongst sobs" instead of "amidst sobs"?

While both "amongst" and "amidst" are valid prepositions, "amidst" is generally preferred in modern usage to describe a situation or environment characterized by something emotional like sobs.

What is the difference between "amidst sobs" and "overcome with emotion"?

"Amidst sobs" describes the physical act of crying while doing something else, whereas "overcome with emotion" describes being overwhelmed by feelings, which may or may not involve crying.