an acute ear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an acute ear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is very perceptive or sensitive to sounds, music, or nuances in communication. Example: "As a musician, she has an acute ear for melody and harmony, allowing her to compose beautiful pieces effortlessly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Still, Ms. Thomas has an acute ear.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Dalbavie has an acute ear for lush colorings and pungent, post-tonal harmonies.

The New York Times - Arts

It reveals what an acute ear LaBute has: his dialogue is hyper-real; filigree fierce.

The Guardian

She writes great Gothic, her descriptive skill augmented by an acute ear for dialogue.

The New York Times - Books

The novel has an acute ear for speech that brooks no response.

The Guardian - Books

He had an acute ear for the stops and starts, the detours, switchbacks and inventive obscenities of conversation.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Denisov's style may have seemed avant-garde by Soviet standards but now sounds like mainstream modernism, as produced by a composer with a very acute ear.

The New York Times - Arts

"Rollercoaster," the first film of Scott Smith, captures the crude, anarchic language of alienated teenagers with an astoundingly acute ear.

The New York Times

He's a great coder, and a great musician, and has a very acute ear for sound design.

Vice

There is a suggestion of Benjamin Britten here; Dean has a comparably acute ear for words, and Amanda Holden's confidently unadorned lyrics, based on Peter Carey's first novel, Bliss, deserve the respectful attention they receive.

The Guardian - Music

It's best to captivate students when they're younger – earlier on they have a very acute ear for accents and no inhibitions about sounding funny.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an acute ear" to describe someone who is exceptionally good at discerning subtle differences in musical tones or harmonies.

Common error

Avoid using "an acute ear" to describe visual perception or other non-auditory senses. It specifically refers to the ability to perceive and understand sounds with great precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an acute ear" functions as a descriptive term, typically modifying a noun (often a person) to indicate a heightened ability to perceive and understand sounds. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Arts

16%

Books

12%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an acute ear" is a well-established and grammatically sound phrase used to describe someone with exceptional auditory perception. Ludwig AI analysis of numerous examples shows the phrase is commonly found in news, arts, and books contexts. It implies a heightened ability to discern subtle differences in sounds, musical tones, or spoken language. When writing, it's best to use "an acute ear" in auditory-related contexts and to consider alternatives like ""a sharp ear"" or ""a perceptive ear"" to precisely convey the intended meaning. The phrase has a neutral tone with usage that spans from formal to neutral contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a perceptive ear

Highlights the ability to discern subtle differences in sound.

a discerning ear

Emphasizes the ability to make careful judgments about sound quality.

a sensitive ear

Emphasizes the ability to detect and appreciate nuances in sound.

a sharp ear

Implies quickness and precision in auditory perception.

a keen sense of hearing

Focuses specifically on the physiological aspect of hearing ability.

an expert ear

Suggests a high level of skill and experience in auditory perception.

a good ear for sound

A more general phrase indicating skill in perceiving and understanding sound.

a refined sense of hearing

Suggests a cultivated and sophisticated ability to perceive sound.

a talent for hearing

Highlights a natural aptitude or gift for perceiving sound.

an ear for detail

Focuses on the ability to notice and appreciate subtle auditory details.

FAQs

How can I use "an acute ear" in a sentence?

You can use "an acute ear" to describe someone who is very perceptive or sensitive to sounds. For example: "The composer has an acute ear for melody and harmony."

What's a good alternative to "an acute ear"?

Alternatives include "a keen sense of hearing", "a sharp ear", or "a perceptive ear" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "an acute eye" instead of "an acute ear" if I'm referring to visual perception?

No, "an acute ear" specifically refers to auditory perception. For visual perception, you would use "a keen eye" or "sharp eyesight".

What does it mean to have "an acute ear" for dialogue?

Having "an acute ear" for dialogue means you are very skilled at capturing the nuances, rhythms, and authenticity of spoken language in writing or performance.