an ear of corn

USAGE SUMMARY

"an ear of corn" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is commonly used to refer to a single unit of corn on the cob, with the husk still intact. Example: The farmer plucked an ear of corn from the stalk and handed it to the customer, who marveled at its bright yellow kernels.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

An angel made from an ear of corn — "She's supposed to bring me good luck in my work," Mr. Azaroff said — was found at a Mexican flea market.

The New York Times

"One is an ear of corn.

The New York Times

("Sometimes an ear of corn is just an ear of corn," Meyer remarks).

The New Yorker

He tore open an ear of corn and grimaced.

The New York Times

It is made of an ear of corn.

The New York Times

Honorable mention for Tulip's use of an ear of corn as a spear.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"In a dream an ear of corn could dance," Mr. Parker said.

The New York Times

It's entirely possible that "King Sil" was an ear of corn.

The New York Times - Arts

1. Stand an ear of corn in a shallow bowl, stem-side down.

The New York Times

Inside were more little objects: a chess knight, a leprechaun, stamps, an ear of corn.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The market at Davenport Farms, which is topped by an ear-of-corn weather vane, sells honey, fresh eclairs, locally smoked bacon and, at this time of year, pumpkins.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scene or object, consider using specific adjectives with "an ear of corn" to enhance the imagery, such as "a plump, juicy ear of corn" or "a sun-ripened ear of corn".

Common error

Avoid using "an ears of corn". "Ear of corn" is singular, so use "ears of corn" for plural references instead.

Linguistic Context

An ear of corn" serves as a noun phrase, typically functioning as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. The phrase names a specific, countable item. Ludwig confirms its acceptability in various sentences. The examples show it participating to different events: eating, inspecting, gifting, etc..

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an ear of corn" is a grammatically sound and widely used noun phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability across a broad spectrum of contexts, most commonly found in News & Media. It generally serves to identify a specific item – corn on the cob – and holds a neutral register applicable in various settings. While there are alternative phrasings, the provided suggestions offer the closest semantic meaning, allowing writers to add detail or variation to their language. Remember to avoid the common error of misusing the singular and plural forms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a cob of corn

Focuses on the cob, the central part of the ear, rather than the whole.

some ears of corn

Refers to multiple ears, changing the quantity.

fresh ear of corn

Adds the attribute of freshness.

a roasting ear

Specifies the type of ear suitable for roasting.

an unhusked ear of corn

Highlights the presence of the husk.

grilled ear of corn

Describes the method of preparation.

an organic ear of corn

Specifies that the corn is organically grown.

a field of corn

Shifts the focus from the individual ear to the collective.

harvested corn

Emphasizes the harvesting action and the state of the corn.

a serving of corn

Highlights the portion size and the act of serving it as food.

FAQs

How can I describe "an ear of corn" more vividly?

You can use descriptive adjectives like "ripe", "sweet", "golden", or "fresh" to add more detail. For example, instead of saying "an ear of corn", you could say "a "ripe ear of corn"".

What's the difference between "an ear of corn" and "corn on the cob"?

"An ear of corn" typically refers to the corn as it grows on the stalk, while "corn on the cob" usually means it's been harvested and is ready to eat, often cooked. So you might harvest "an ear of corn" and then cook it as "corn on the cob".

Is it correct to say "a corn ear" instead of "an ear of corn"?

While technically understandable, "an ear of corn" is the more common and natural phrasing. "A corn ear" sounds slightly awkward. It's better to stick with the standard phrase "an ear of corn".

How to use "an ear of corn" in a sentence about farming?

You could say, "The farmer carefully examined "an ear of corn" to assess the health of the crop" or "Each stalk produced several ears of corn this season".