an air of

USAGE SUMMARY

"an air of" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is used to describe an atmosphere or feeling around a person or situation. For example, "John walked into the room with an air of confidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She wears an air of sweet authority.

The New Yorker

The architecture has an air of unreality.

Independent

(It has an air of controlled violence).

The New York Times - Arts

Teheran has an air of increased prosperity.

The New Yorker

There was an air of violence.

The New Yorker

Even Redknapp has an air of transience.

Independent

Empty spaces with an air of anticipation.

The New York Times

He had an air of contentment.

The New Yorker

He projects an air of oracular intensity.

The New Yorker

There is an air of siege mentality.

The Guardian - Film

Bedlam carries an air of permanent perplexity.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an air of" to subtly convey an impression or atmosphere. It is more nuanced than directly stating a characteristic.

Common error

Avoid using "an air of" when a direct description is more appropriate. For instance, instead of saying "The room had an air of being messy", you could simply say "The room was messy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an air of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, conveying a particular quality, atmosphere, or impression associated with the noun. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable element within sentences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an air of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to subtly convey a particular quality or atmosphere. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently appears in various contexts, most notably in news and media. It functions to add nuance to descriptions and is best used when indirectness is desired. While common, avoid overuse to maintain clarity and impact in your writing. Alternatives like "a sense of" or "an aura of" can be used to vary your language. The phrase benefits from a strong source quality score and positive expert rating, indicating its reliability and effectiveness in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a sense of

This alternative replaces "air" with "sense", focusing on the perception or feeling created.

an aura of

This alternative replaces "air" with "aura", emphasizing a distinctive atmosphere surrounding something.

a feeling of

This alternative uses "feeling" instead of "air", highlighting the emotional impression conveyed.

an impression of

This focuses on the mental image or belief formed as a result.

a semblance of

This suggests an outward appearance that may or may not be genuine.

a touch of

This conveys a slight or subtle presence of a quality.

a hint of

Similar to "a touch of", this suggests a subtle indication or trace.

an undercurrent of

This emphasizes a hidden or underlying feeling or influence.

an atmosphere of

This alternative focuses on the prevailing mood or environment.

a quality of

This alternative replaces "air" with "quality", focusing on an attribute that is inherent to something.

FAQs

How can I use "an air of" in a sentence?

Use "an air of" to describe an atmosphere or impression. For example, "The meeting had "an air of tension"" or "She carried "an air of confidence"".

What phrases are similar to "an air of"?

Similar phrases include "a sense of", "an aura of", or "a feeling of". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "an air of" or a more direct adjective?

Using "an air of" adds subtlety. Instead of "He was arrogant", saying "He had "an air of arrogance"" suggests that arrogance was part of his overall demeanor, rather than his defining characteristic.

When should I avoid using "an air of"?

Avoid using "an air of" when a more direct and concise description is possible and preferable. Overusing it can make your writing sound verbose. Instead of saying "The situation had "an air of uncertainty"", simply say "The situation was uncertain".