as expressive as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as expressive as" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to compare the expressiveness of two different subjects, indicating that they convey similar levels of emotion or meaning. Example: "Her painting was as expressive as the poem she wrote about it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Moreover, we establish a lower bound on the expressiveness of the generalized notation and show that they are at least as expressive as constraint diagrams.

Journal of Visual Languages & Computing

His face and hands are as expressive as his speech.

The New Yorker

The moon can seem as expressive as a face.

The New Yorker

His crime novels can be just as expressive as Banville prizewinners.

The New York Times - Books

Quintilian believed that the gestures it made were almost as expressive as words.

The New York Times - Arts

The drawing extends only to her elbows but is as expressive as any full-length figure treatment in the show.

The New York Times - Arts

We also give an APPEL to XPath translator that shows that XPath is as expressive as APPEL.

Computer Networks

He is a master of the unexpected close-up, making hands and feet as expressive as voices and eyes.

The New York Times

That was a big problem, and all I could do was try to make the drawings as expressive as possible.

The New York Times

Mr. Bogart and Ms. Burrows make a personable couple whose intimate body language is as expressive as their duets.

The New York Times

Clarity and transparency came belatedly, the silence at the end as expressive as the music that had gone before.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as expressive as" to draw direct comparisons between two subjects, ensuring the comparison is clear and enhances the reader's understanding of both subjects. For instance, "His guitar solos were as expressive as his voice."

Common error

Ensure that when using "as expressive as", the subject of comparison is clear. Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating what is being compared to what. For example, instead of saying "The art was as expressive as ever", specify "The art was as expressive as the artist's earlier works."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as expressive as" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to describe the degree to which something conveys emotion, meaning, or feeling, relative to another subject. The examples in Ludwig highlight its versatility across diverse contexts, from art and literature to personal expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Arts

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as expressive as" is a versatile and commonly used comparative phrase. It effectively draws parallels between two subjects based on their ability to convey emotion, meaning, or feeling. As confirmed by Ludwig, its grammatical correctness and prevalence across reputable sources like the The New York Times, The Guardian, and BBC solidifies its place in standard English usage. When employing this phrase, ensure the comparison is precise and explicit, avoiding ambiguity. Remember that it is mainly found in News and Media articles, but it can be employed in other contexts too.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

equally expressive as

Adds emphasis on the equivalence of expressiveness.

just as expressive as

Implies a direct comparison, highlighting the similarity in expressiveness.

comparably expressive to

Uses a different preposition to denote similarity in expressiveness.

similarly expressive to

Focuses on the similarity of the expression.

of equal expressiveness to

Emphasizes the equality of expressiveness using a more formal tone.

matches in expressiveness

Highlights the matching quality of expression.

on par with in expressiveness

Highlights equivalence in expressive ability.

rivals in expressiveness

Suggests a competitive level of expressiveness.

bears comparison in expressiveness to

Invites a comparison in terms of expressiveness.

approaches the expressiveness of

Indicates that something is getting closer to a certain level of expressiveness.

FAQs

How can I use "as expressive as" in a sentence?

Use "as expressive as" to compare the degree of expressiveness between two subjects. For example: "Her dance was "as expressive as" a poem."

What are some alternatives to "as expressive as"?

You can use alternatives such as "equally expressive as", "just as expressive as", or "comparably expressive to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "as expressive as" and "equally expressive as"?

While both phrases indicate a similar degree of expressiveness, "equally expressive as" emphasizes the equivalence more strongly. "As expressive as" is generally more common, but the choice depends on the desired emphasis.

Can "as expressive as" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "as expressive as" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. Its appropriateness depends on the context and the subjects being compared. In formal writing, ensure the comparison is precise and contributes meaningfully to your argument.