as shadow of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as shadow of" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a relationship or comparison, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "He walked through life as a shadow of his former self."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Set up in 1984, Newcastle-based Reflections swiftly established a reputation for bringing cutting-edge graphics to side-scrollers such as Shadow of the Beast and the gloriously named Brian the Lion.

The Guardian - Tech

Tracks such as "Shadow Of Death Hotel" and "The Beaten Side Of Town" offer vivid, monochrome musical portraits of a Naked City in which everyone wears overcoats and snap-brim hats, smokes like there's no tomorrow, and works as a gumshoe.

Independent

As the critic of Time magazine wrote: "It is a wonderful shotgun wedding of movie mythology, bad taste, obsessive romanticism and impudent satire". After Fassbinder's play The Garbage, the City and Death, was banned in Germany because of its perceived anti-semitism, Schmid adapted it for the screen as Shadow of Angels (1976) with Fassbinder as producer and actor, playing the role of a pimp.

The Guardian

It would be terrific if that franchise had combat even half as deep and complex as Shadow of Mordor, let alone as fun.

Forbes

If you tend to play a couple of GPU-bound games regularly such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider or World of Tanks, then the AMD CPU is better value and performs identically in these types of games.

Forbes

Already available on games for the Xbox One consoles and Windows 10 devices via Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X implementations, spatial sound can transform the gaming experience - as anyone who's experienced it in games such as Shadow Of The Tomb Raider, The Division 2 and Forza Horizon 4 will confirm.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Mates, to my sisters and me, are seen mainly as shadows of the people they're involved with.

The New Yorker

Since the dotcom craze collapsed, many of the firms born during the boom years have died, or else stagger on as shadows of their former selves.

The Economist

Light projected against the revolving case casts shadows of the miniature sculptures against the wall, blowing them up to a larger size — but as "shadows" of themselves, as the title indicates.

The New York Times

By their absolute repression of primitive context, meaning, content, and intention... [Rubin and Varnedoe] have treated the primitives as less than human, less than cultural — as shadows of a culture, their selfhood, their Otherness, wrung out of them".

The New Yorker

As shadows of buildings on the west side of Amsterdam Avenue moved up the walls of buildings on the east, a shirtless man peered out a second-story window, half-awake, glaring this way&that.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reframe your sentence using established prepositional phrases like "in the shadow of" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "as shadow of" when more established expressions like "in the shadow of" or "under the influence of" would be more grammatically sound and easily understood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as shadow of" functions as a prepositional component, typically aiming to denote a state of being influenced or diminished by something else. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the construction is not grammatically correct in standard English. Instead, phrases like "in the shadow of" are preferred.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Wiki

29%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as shadow of" is an interesting case in English usage. While it appears in various sources, Ludwig AI highlights that it is not considered grammatically correct. Its intended meaning often revolves around influence, resemblance, or diminishment. More established phrases like "in the shadow of" are generally preferred for clarity and grammatical accuracy. Given its questioned validity, writers should exercise caution and consider alternative expressions to convey their intended meaning more effectively. Based on Ludwig examples, this phrase occurs most frequently in News & Media and Wiki.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the shadow of

Suggests being overshadowed or influenced by something else; implies a looming presence or consequence.

under the influence of

Highlights the effect or power exerted by someone or something, leading to specific actions or conditions.

reminiscent of

Implies a similarity or likeness to something else, often evoking memories or associations.

echoing

Suggests a reverberating effect or a continuing presence of something, similar to a shadow.

reflecting

Indicates a mirrored image or representation, similar to how a shadow represents an object.

emulating

Highlights the act of imitating or following someone's example, like a shadow following a form.

mirroring

Indicates a close resemblance or duplication, similar to how a shadow mirrors an object's shape.

comparable to

Suggests a similarity or analogy between two things, highlighting their common attributes.

akin to

Implies a close relationship or similarity, suggesting shared characteristics or qualities.

like a faint reminder of

Expresses a weak connection or distant resemblance, conveying a subtle or fading influence.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "in the shadow of" someone?

To be "in the shadow of" someone means to be overshadowed by their accomplishments, influence, or reputation. It implies that the person's achievements are less recognized compared to the more prominent individual.

How can I use "in the shadow of" in a sentence?

You can use "in the shadow of" in a sentence to indicate that something is influenced or dominated by something else. For example, "The small business struggled to grow in the shadow of the large corporation."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "in the shadow of"?

Some alternatives to "in the shadow of" include "under the influence of", "overshadowed by", or "dominated by depending on the specific context".

Is it correct to say "as a shadow of" instead of "in the shadow of"?

While "as a shadow of" might appear in some contexts, it's generally less idiomatic and grammatically sound compared to "in the shadow of". It's best to use the latter for clarity and adherence to standard English.