an illusion of

USAGE SUMMARY

"an illusion of" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used in various contexts to describe something that seems real or true but is actually false or unreal. For example: - The magician created an illusion of a woman floating in mid-air. - The advertisement created an illusion of happiness, but in reality, the product did not deliver. - She lived in an illusion of love, blinded by her belief that their relationship was perfect. - The painting gave the illusion of depth and dimension, even though it was only a flat canvas. - The bright lights and loud music created an illusion of a bustling city, but in reality, the town was quiet and sleepy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was an illusion, of course.

The New Yorker

"It's an illusion of a team".

The New York Times

This creates an illusion of depth.

The New York Times - Tech

That is an illusion of course.

The New York Times - Arts

But it's an illusion, of course.

The Economist

It's an illusion of wings.

Yale University

It's an illusion of budget balancing.

The New York Times

The process creates an illusion of invisibility.

The New York Times

In the end, it is an illusion of sorts.

University of California, Berkeley

"It gives me an illusion of youth," the writer replies.

The New Yorker

You need, in short, to create an illusion of destiny.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an illusion of" to describe situations where something appears to be true or present but is not, particularly when discussing perception or deception.

Common error

Avoid treating the "illusion of" something as the actual thing. Always acknowledge the underlying reality that contrasts with the perceived illusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an illusion of" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. It describes a deceptive appearance or a false impression. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an illusion of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that describes a deceptive or misleading appearance. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid and is commonly used. It's prevalent across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and science. To enhance your writing, remember to use it when highlighting the difference between perceived reality and actual truth. While various alternatives exist, such as "a semblance of" or "a false impression of", "an illusion of" remains a versatile and effective choice for conveying deception or misperception.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a semblance of

Focuses on an outward appearance that may not reflect reality.

a false impression of

Highlights that the perception is incorrect.

a deceptive appearance of

Emphasizes the misleading nature of the appearance.

a facade of

Suggests a deliberate attempt to conceal the truth.

a pretense of

Implies an attempt to feign or simulate something.

a mirage of

Implies something that is not actually present, like a desert mirage.

a fictitious sense of

Emphasizes that the feeling is not genuine.

a trick of the eye

Refers specifically to visual deceptions.

a make-believe world of

Suggests an imagined or invented reality.

a delusional belief in

Highlights a strong, irrational conviction.

FAQs

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

Use "an illusion of" to describe something that appears real or true but isn't. For example, "The stage lighting created "an illusion of depth"".

What's a good alternative to "an illusion of"?

Alternatives include "a semblance of", "a false impression of", or "a deceptive appearance of", each emphasizing a slightly different aspect of the deception.

Is it ever appropriate to use "illusion" positively?

While "illusion" often implies deception, it can be used neutrally to describe artistic or perceptual effects, like in stage magic or visual arts. For example, "The artist created "an illusion of movement" in the painting".

What's the difference between "an illusion of" and "a delusion of"?

"An illusion of" refers to a misinterpretation of sensory information, while "a delusion of" refers to a fixed, false belief that is not based on reality. A person might experience "an illusion of grandeur", but suffer a "a delusion of grandeur" if they firmly believe they are a royal person.