beautiful in itself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "beautiful in itself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that possesses inherent beauty, independent of external factors or comparisons. Example: "The painting is beautiful in itself, regardless of the artist's reputation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Abstract mathematics, beautiful in itself, continually results in helpful applications, and that's pretty wonderful and delightful, too.

The New Yorker

David Tetrault's gold and jewel-encrusted pinafore was beautiful in itself, but the skirt rippled up to reveal a bright, deep yellow underskirt that was a dazzling surprise.

The New York Times - Arts

Singing buffs will tell you that the extraordinary thing about him was that his voice was neither particularly beautiful in itself nor nearly as big as he managed to make it sound.

The New Yorker

It carried a message Fortune's readers wanted to hear: that industry was beautiful in itself and thriving, no matter what was going on out on the streets, and that America had the might and the technology to overcome obstacles.

The New York Times - Arts

And finally to the even more majestic Gloucester Cathedral – beautiful in itself, of course, but also big in Japan because its great cloister doubled as Hogwarts corridors in the Harry Potter films.

The Guardian - Sport

Their case was forcefully put by Sergei Gorodetsky in the January, 1913, issue of the St . Petersburgarts journal Apollón: "For the Acmeists, a rose has again become beautiful in itself, for its petals, fragrance, and color, and not for its purported likeness to mystical love or something else".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Technique is important, but being a beautiful draughtsman in itself is not enough".

The Guardian - Arts

Packaged with drawings by the director's brother, Eric Anderson, the two-disc set is a beautiful object in itself.

The New York Times - Arts

His two-tier process separated color from image, a radical move that made thinness a beautiful thing in itself, a perfect visual metaphor for the fragile, transitory nature of life and the basis for an indelible Warhol brand.

The New York Times - Arts

It was a beautiful thing in itself, but, appearing as it did in the early years of the civil rights struggle, Charles's bittersweet reading seemed like an elegy to an Old South that was - or ought to have been - on its way out.

The Guardian

Fortunately because the wood itself is just so beautiful that in itself sold it to these artists.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "beautiful in itself" to emphasize that the beauty of something is inherent and doesn't depend on external factors or comparisons.

Common error

Avoid using "beautiful in itself" when the beauty is clearly derived from external elements or context, as this diminishes the phrase's emphasis on inherent qualities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "beautiful in itself" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, emphasizing the inherent and self-contained nature of its beauty. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

14%

Science

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "beautiful in itself" is a grammatically correct and usable expression used to describe something that possesses inherent beauty, independent of external factors. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is considered correct and is found in various contexts, including News & Media, Wiki, and Science. The phrase emphasizes intrinsic aesthetic qualities and is most accurately used when highlighting a self-contained beauty, making it distinct from something that is merely "beautiful in a way". Alternatives such as "intrinsically beautiful" and "beautiful on its own merits" offer similar nuances, emphasizing the inherent nature of beauty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intrinsically beautiful

Emphasizes the inherent nature of beauty, similar to the original phrase.

beautiful on its own merits

Highlights that the beauty is based on its own qualities, without needing external factors.

inherently attractive

Focuses on the natural attractiveness present from within.

possessing intrinsic beauty

A more formal way to state that something contains beauty as a core element.

beautiful in its essence

Points to the fundamental beauty found at the core of something.

beautiful without comparison

Highlights that the beauty stands alone, not needing to be compared to anything else.

beautiful for what it is

Stresses appreciation of something's beauty in its current state.

self-contained beauty

Suggests that the beauty is complete and doesn't require anything external.

beautiful by nature

Indicates beauty that is natural and innate.

beautiful in its pure form

Emphasizes the unadulterated and pristine beauty.

FAQs

How can I use "beautiful in itself" in a sentence?

Use "beautiful in itself" to describe something whose beauty is inherent and self-contained. For example: "The intricate design of the snowflake is "beautiful in itself", regardless of its fleeting existence."

What are some alternatives to "beautiful in itself"?

You can use phrases like "intrinsically beautiful", "inherently attractive", or "beautiful on its own merits" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say something is "beautiful in itself"?

While beauty is often perceived subjectively, "beautiful in itself" emphasizes that the beauty is inherent and doesn't rely on external validation or comparison, so it's not necessarily redundant.

What's the difference between "beautiful in itself" and "beautiful in a way"?

"Beautiful in itself" suggests an inherent, self-contained beauty, while "beautiful in a way" indicates that something possesses beauty despite potential flaws or unconventional qualities.