barren crags

USAGE SUMMARY

"barren crags" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a very rocky and bare landscape, such as a mountain range. For example, "The mountaineers stumbled through the barren crags, searching for the right path to the summit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Britain's peregrine falcons have long been synonymous with their nesting sites on barren crags.

The Times

Gulls circled, arcing out over the sea and back towards their perches on the barren crags.

BBC

It little profits that an idle king,   By this still hearth, among these barren crags,   Match'd with an aged wife, I mete and dole.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Patches of fertile lushness nestle among barren, dessicated crags.

The Guardian - Travel

Even during summer the alliance's ageing Mi-17 transport helicopters struggle across the pass, flying just metres above the barren mountain crags of the Hindu Kush, the blades cutting through desperately thin air.

The Guardian

The Yazidi Kurds, marginalized followers of a secretive religion, had fled their homes in advance of an offensive by the Islamic State, formerly ISIS, and taken shelter on Mount Sinjar — a range of barren, waterless crags, where many of the weakest died of thirst and heat exhaustion.

Vice

I awake to brilliant blue skies and a vista of snow-covered crags, dazzling white, behind the barren purple and mauve mountains that edge the valley.

Independent

Barren mountains sheer up from the faraway edges of the fjord, their black crags softened by thick drifts of pristine white snow.

BBC

Inevitably barren.

The Guardian

Fields are barren.

The Economist

It's barren.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barren crags", consider the visual and emotional impact you want to create. This phrase evokes a sense of starkness and isolation, so use it in contexts where you want to emphasize these qualities.

Common error

Avoid using "barren crags" when describing landscapes that have some vegetation or signs of life. The phrase is most effective when depicting truly desolate and rocky environments.

Linguistic Context

"Barren crags" primarily functions as a descriptive phrase, modifying a noun to create a vivid image of a desolate landscape. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English to depict rocky and bare terrains, often in mountainous areas.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barren crags" is a grammatically correct and evocative way to describe rocky, desolate landscapes. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, although its frequency is rare, it's especially prominent in News & Media. The phrase’s neutral to formal register makes it suitable for descriptive and literary contexts, effectively conveying starkness and isolation. When writing with "barren crags", consider the visual and emotional impact it creates, ensuring its aptness for the intended context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desolate cliffs

Focuses more on the emotional impact of emptiness.

arid peaks

Emphasizes the lack of moisture and vegetation.

bleak rock formations

Highlights the harsh and unwelcoming nature of the rocks.

stark cliffs

Simple alternative emphasizing severity and bareness.

empty crags

Emphasizes the lack of anything on the crags.

exposed bluffs

Focuses on the lack of shelter and the prominence of the landform.

naked rocks

Highlights the absence of any covering or vegetation.

infertile cliffs

Draws attention to the inability of the land to support life.

unproductive crags

Highlights the lack of resource or vegetation.

lifeless rocks

Emphasizes the absence of biological activity or vegetation.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "barren crags" in a sentence?

Use "barren crags" to describe a landscape that is rocky, desolate, and devoid of vegetation. For example: "The climbers struggled to ascend the "barren crags", with no shelter in sight."

What are some alternatives to "barren crags"?

You can use alternatives such as "desolate cliffs", "arid peaks", or "stark cliffs" depending on the specific aspect you want to emphasize.

Is "barren crags" a formal or informal expression?

"Barren crags" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, but is more often found in descriptive or literary contexts. The formality depends more on the surrounding text than on the phrase itself.

What imagery does the phrase "barren crags" evoke?

The phrase "barren crags" evokes images of a harsh, desolate landscape, often associated with mountains or coastal regions where the terrain is rocky and lacks vegetation. It conveys a sense of isolation and inhospitable conditions.