as if built

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as if built" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that appears to have been constructed or created in a certain way, often implying a comparison or hypothetical situation. Example: "The structure stood tall and proud, as if built to withstand the fiercest storms."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The outer walls, as if built for a fortress, are nearly a foot thick.

The New York Times

There are walls plastered with bones, as if built brick-by-brick out of skeletons; there are mannequins wearing leather balaclavas with zippered smiles.

The Guardian - Arts

With four proud chimneys and rough red-stained boarding, it recalls a diminutive Battersea Power Station as if built by Amish barn-raisers.

The Guardian - Arts

She shares the sleek sculptural power of the world she inhabits, wearing the sharply angled artifices of high fashion as if built for them and evoking, with her coolly glowing stillness, fire encased in marble.

The New Yorker

It looked more like a gigantic, windowless log cabin crudely slathered with pitch, as if built in haste by a man who thought the flood might come any day.

The New Yorker

"The Old System" includes this snapshot of a Chicago street scene: "The tedious mortar of tenements, settled out of line, the buildings swaybacked, with grime on grime, as if built of cast-off shoes, not brick".

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

If built as scheduled, the new school will open in 2011.

The New York Times

The Kamal Khan Dam, if built as planned, will "quite likely spell the death of the Hamouns," the expert told me.

The New York Times - Magazine

If there's one thing we've learned in the online video ecosystem, it's that distribution and monetization aren't as easy as "If you build it, they will come".

TechCrunch

Crowded with "carved effigies of / men and women, monsters among them," it rises on its reflection in the moat "as if / built in both directions: soaring and sinking".

The New York Times - Books

IT seems as if I built my business around my travel desires.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as if built" to create a vivid image or comparison in your writing. For example, "The snow-covered landscape looked "as if built" from sugar."

Common error

Avoid using "as if built" when describing something that was literally constructed in that manner. It's for comparisons, not literal descriptions. If you mean that something was actually built in a certain way, say so directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as if built" functions as a conjunction phrase, introducing a hypothetical or comparative clause. It modifies a noun or verb phrase by suggesting a resemblance to something that has been constructed. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as if built" functions as a conjunction phrase used to create comparisons, enhancing descriptions by suggesting a resemblance to something constructed. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and usable, though relatively uncommon. It is generally neutral in register, most frequently appearing in News & Media contexts. When writing, use it to create vivid images, but avoid using it to describe literal construction. Consider alternatives like "as though constructed" to subtly alter the nuance. Overall, understanding its purpose and limitations will help you integrate "as if built" effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as though constructed

Replaces 'if' with 'though', maintaining the hypothetical sense of construction.

as if it had been constructed

More explicitly states the hypothetical construction.

seeming to be built

Focuses on the appearance of being built, rather than a hypothetical.

appearing to have been built

Emphasizes the visual impression of a prior construction.

looking like it was built

Highlights the visual similarity to something constructed.

resembling a built structure

Shifts the focus to the resemblance of a physical structure.

with the appearance of being built

Highlights that something has the look of being constructed, rather than implying it actually was.

in a manner suggesting construction

Formal alternative, emphasizing the way something appears.

evoking a sense of construction

Focuses on the feeling or impression of being built.

simulating a built form

Implies an intentional imitation of a built structure.

FAQs

How can I use "as if built" in a sentence?

Use "as if built" to describe something that appears to be constructed in a particular way, often implying a comparison. For instance, "The ancient ruins stood tall, "as if built" to withstand the test of time".

What phrases are similar in meaning to "as if built"?

Alternatives include "as though constructed", "seeming to be built", or "appearing to have been built", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "as if built" and "as though built"?

The phrases "as if built" and "as though built" are largely interchangeable. Both express a hypothetical comparison, suggesting something resembles a constructed object.

When is it inappropriate to use "as if built"?

Avoid using "as if built" when describing something that was actually constructed in the way you are describing. The phrase is meant to create a comparison, not to describe a literal construction process.