as messy as a

USAGE SUMMARY

"as messy as a" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a comparison to describe something that is very messy. For example: "The room was as messy as a tornado had just blown through it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Draw all the lines of alliance, rivalry, anger and affection among those individuals and the results would be as messy as a child's scribble.

The New York Times

The vocals were passionate but thin, the guitar solos were as messy as a girl's room, and the spirited, hapless drumming was like a recruiting poster for garage rock.

The New Yorker

Technically, nobody knows how to make a lab-on-a-chip that can work with something as messy as a drop of blood.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Kipnis, who went to art school in the late seventies and early eighties, belongs to a generation whose members grew up expecting that consensual sexual relationships, and the power dynamics they involve, would often be as messy as an unmade bed.

The New Yorker

Around April 2008, Kelly Ray Elley and other gang leaders ordered members to kill a prospect and to make it "as messy as possible" as a message about the consequences of cooperating with law enforcement, the indictment alleged.

The New York Times

Luckily slicing into an iPhone 4S isn't as messy as cutting open an amphibian, but there are still a number of interesting things to look at.

The New York Times

Repeat this a few times until you get your hair as messy as desired (this adds a better base to make the hair stand up).

WikiHow

A life as messy as hers — glittering but repetitive — and an oeuvre as uneven can benefit from compression.

The New Yorker

All this may be messy, but not nearly as messy as the alternative that seemed a real prospect only ten years ago: a break-up of the Indonesian state.

The Economist

Whichever option, the room will be as messy as the first social interaction between a fucked up person with a non-fucked up person.

Vice

"We're using something as messy as paint because there is an organic nature to it," says Conru. "It has something real to it.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Maintain consistency in your comparisons. For example, if describing a room, consider comparing it to something that naturally becomes messy, like a teenager's bedroom or a construction site.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "as messy as a" in close proximity within your writing. Vary your descriptions with synonyms such as "disorganized", "chaotic", or "untidy" to maintain reader engagement and prevent monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as messy as a" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It describes the degree to which something exhibits messiness by comparing it to a familiar standard. Ludwig AI highlights numerous examples illustrating this function across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

8.3%

Less common in

Science

8.3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as messy as a" is a grammatically correct and commonly used comparative phrase that serves to vividly describe the state of disorder or disarray of something. Ludwig AI indicates this expression is most frequently found in News & Media contexts. While the phrase is appropriate for many everyday situations, it is less suited for formal or scientific writing. Alternative expressions, such as "as disorganized as a" or "as chaotic as a", may offer nuanced ways to convey similar meanings. The usage data suggests that while versatile, writers should use this phrase thoughtfully to maintain clarity and avoid repetition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as disorganized as a

Focuses more on the lack of structure rather than the physical appearance of messiness.

as chaotic as a

Emphasizes the turbulent and disordered nature of the situation.

as disordered as a

Highlights the lack of order or arrangement.

as cluttered as a

Specifically refers to being filled with unnecessary items.

as untidy as a

A more general term for lacking neatness.

as jumbled as a

Implies a confused or unsorted state.

as disheveled as a

Suggests a state of being unkempt or rumpled.

as sloppy as a

Conveys a lack of care or precision, leading to messiness.

as grubby as a

Focuses on the dirty and unhygienic aspect of messiness.

as muddled as a

Indicates a state of confusion and disorder.

FAQs

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

You can use "as messy as a" to compare something to a messy scenario. For example, "The office was "as messy as a" teenager's bedroom after a party."

What are some alternatives to "as messy as a"?

Alternatives include "as disorganized as a", "as chaotic as a", or "as untidy as a", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "as messy as a"?

Yes, "as messy as a" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard structure of a comparative phrase using "as...as" to compare two things.

What kind of situations is "as messy as a" suitable for?

The phrase "as messy as a" is suitable for informal and descriptive contexts, such as describing a cluttered room, a chaotic situation, or an unorganized process. It is less suitable for formal or professional settings.