as if to affirm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as if to affirm" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is acting or speaking in a way that seems to confirm or support a previous statement or idea. Example: "She nodded her head, as if to affirm her agreement with the proposal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

As if to affirm that these were residual landscapes, he rarely included people.

The New Yorker

And, as if to affirm the SoHo analogy, a gourmet food store (known locally as Greenport's answer to Dean & Deluca) has opened across from the loading dock.

The New York Times

And, on film, Alex Hubbard creates a tarred-and-feathered version of Abstract Expressionism, as if to affirm once and for all that if painting isn't dead, it should be.

The New York Times - Arts

As if to affirm the order of all creation, dancers bent pliable poles into various geometrical shapes and finally into spheres when the projections included an enormous clock dial and a starburst.

The New York Times

As if to affirm the place of specialty coffee in the city's food firmament, out-of-towners like Intelligentsia and Stumptown plan to open roasters locally rather than ship beans across the country.

The New York Times

As if to affirm this, a taxi driver told me, unprovoked by any confession of MS on my part, that his friend with the disease had moved out of London and, due to "shame" about her disability, refused to see anyone.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

We found that serum MDA levels were associated with septic mortality; however, it is as yet not possible to affirm that the use of an antioxidant, even if it does lower serum MDA levels, may reduce septic mortality.

Critical Care

It could easily be used as an opportunity to affirm them.

The New York Times - Arts

As we begin to affirm others' positive behavior, they will become more open to us.

HuffPost

In such cases, if we are to affirm the idea, we must move our wills ourselves.

SEP

But if you need me to affirm you as a brother in Christ I can do that".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as if to affirm" when you want to describe an action or statement that seems to reinforce a previous point or idea. It adds a layer of interpretation, suggesting a possible intention behind the action.

Common error

Avoid using "as if to affirm" when the action clearly contradicts the previous statement. The phrase implies a reinforcing intention, so ensure the action logically supports what came before.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as if to affirm" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It indicates the apparent purpose or intent behind an action or statement, suggesting that it serves to confirm or reinforce something previously mentioned. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it adds a layer of interpretation to the described action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

19%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as if to affirm" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase employed to express a perceived intention of confirmation behind an action or statement. As indicated by Ludwig, its register is generally neutral, lending itself to diverse writing styles. This phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources, as well as in academic and scientific texts. While the AI analysis from Ludwig confirms the proper usage of this phrase, writers should be aware of implying an affirmation that doesn't logically follow from the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as though confirming

Changes the conjunction from "as if" to "as though" and replaces "affirm" with "confirming", altering the tone slightly.

seemingly to validate

Replaces "as if" with "seemingly" and "affirm" with "validate", focusing on the appearance of confirmation.

in an apparent attempt to confirm

Adds "in an apparent attempt", making the intention more explicit and replacing "affirm" with "confirm".

as if intending to ratify

Substitutes "affirm" with "ratify", suggesting a more formal endorsement.

in a manner suggesting confirmation

Rephrases the entire expression to focus on the suggestive manner of the action.

appearing to endorse

Uses "appearing" to convey the sense of seeming, and replaces "affirm" with "endorse", which has a slightly stronger connotation of approval.

as though to validate

Changes "as if" to "as though" and "affirm" to "validate", suggesting an act of making something valid.

with the air of confirming

Changes the phrase to focus on the attitude or demeanor accompanying the action, suggesting an atmosphere of confirmation.

giving the impression of affirming

Rephrases to highlight the impression created by the action, rather than the intention behind it.

acting to substantiate

Replaces "as if" with "acting" and "affirm" with "substantiate", indicating an action taken to provide evidence.

FAQs

How can I use "as if to affirm" in a sentence?

Use "as if to affirm" to describe an action or statement that appears to confirm or support a previous point. For example, "She nodded, "as if to affirm" her agreement with the plan."

What's a good alternative to "as if to affirm"?

Alternatives include phrases like "as though confirming", "seemingly to validate", or "in an apparent attempt to confirm" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "as if to affirm" formal or informal?

"As if to affirm" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding context than its inherent formality.

What does "as if to affirm" imply about the actor's intent?

"As if to affirm" suggests that the actor's behavior is interpreted as having the intention of confirming or reinforcing something. It doesn't definitively state their intent, but rather offers an interpretation of their actions.