as if positioned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as if positioned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or state that resembles or suggests a specific placement or arrangement. Example: "The sculpture was arranged in the garden as if positioned to catch the first light of dawn."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The closet door was open, and there was a chair in front of it, as if positioned to pull something down from the shelf.

The New Yorker

For much of the concert each band member stood on a video-LED pedestal with a matching column overhead, as if positioned midway up a flashing skyscraper.

The New York Times - Arts

The man is still and silent – as if positioned in a military line – and will not react to the audience in any way.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In one half of the painting UNCONVETIONAL PARTICIPATION a figure that appears to be Dionysus, the Greek God of wine and fertility, prepares his fist to land on an unseen figure while the other half of the painting reveals a riot police officer grabbing a civilian by the head, as if positioning him to receive the blow.

Vice

The bottom line is that this idea might work, if positioned as a mix of modern and retro coolness and if millennials in particular respond to this niche.

Forbes

WITH Wall Street shaky but art prices sky-high, even the art world's professional boosters started sounding moral about art and money in 2007, as if opportunistically positioning themselves for a fall.

The New York Times - Arts

This is computed from the base quality scores as, where if position k of alignment a matches the reference genome sequence and 0 otherwise, while ε k denotes the error probability of k-th base of r.

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

"This hat was like the roof on a steeple — as square as if it had been positioned with instruments".

The New York Times - Books

The measurement and response function resampled from the displaced positions were used for deconvolution as if the positions were not displaced.

Earth, Planets and Space

This makes it much simpler to extract movement trajectories and is less situational-biased as opposed to if positions are only recorded if communication is going on.

EPJ Data Science

In this case, the text is adjusted and presented as if its position were not rotated.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as if positioned" to vividly describe how something appears to be intentionally placed, even if it is not. This can add depth and imagery to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "as if positioned" when describing purely accidental arrangements. The phrase implies a degree of intentionality or design, so ensure the context supports this nuance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as if positioned" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to describe the apparent arrangement or placement of something. Ludwig highlights its use in suggesting an intentional or deliberate positioning, even if that intention is not real.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as if positioned" serves to describe the apparent arrangement or placement of something, often suggesting an intentionality that may or may not be real. While Ludwig shows the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, it's most effective when used to add descriptive depth and imagery, as demonstrated by the analyzed examples. When employing the phrase in your writing, ensure the context implies some degree of intentional design to enhance clarity. It's more common in media, science, and wiki-based articles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as though placed

Focuses more on the act of placing something, implying a deliberate action that gives the impression of being positioned.

appearing to be positioned

Emphasizes the visual aspect, highlighting that the positioning is not necessarily real but gives that impression.

seemingly arranged

Implies a deliberate arrangement that is evident, though not necessarily genuine.

looking as if it were positioned

More descriptive, adding emphasis to the visual impression created by the positioning.

acting as if aligned

Suggests a state of alignment and how it can be achieved.

arranged in a position resembling

Highlights the manual arrangement and compares it to a known position.

with the appearance of being situated

Formal alternative stressing the visual aspect and location.

disposed as if set

Formal, using 'disposed' to indicate an arrangement similar to being 'set' in place.

set out as if arrayed

Emphasizes a formal arrangement, similar to an array or organized display.

posed in what seems a placement

Implies a deliberately created or staged placement, emphasizing its artificiality or artistic intention.

FAQs

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

You can use "as if positioned" to describe an object or person that gives the impression of being deliberately placed. For example, "The books were stacked on the shelf "as if positioned" by a meticulous hand".

What are some alternatives to "as if positioned"?

Alternatives include phrases like "as though placed", "appearing to be positioned", or "seemingly arranged", each offering slight variations in nuance.

Is "as if positioned" formal or informal?

"As if positioned" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the overall tone of the writing. It is commonly found in descriptive writing across various registers.

What's the difference between "as if positioned" and "as if located"?

"As if positioned" implies a deliberate act of placement, whereas "as if located" simply suggests a specific location or situation. The former emphasizes arrangement, the latter emphasizes place.