bewildering account

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bewildering account" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a narrative or explanation that is confusing or difficult to understand. Example: "The documentary provided a bewildering account of the events leading up to the disaster, leaving viewers more confused than informed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It is a very granular, and at times bewildering, account of the music and dance-club scenes in Berlin from the eighties on.

The New Yorker

You can get a fuller and less bewildering account of the Poe daguerreotypes from this book by photographer Michael Deas.

Johns Hopkins University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As Victor, Tom Mannion gives a bewildered account of a lowly police officer who values public service above private gain; Colin Stinton's Walter seems magnificently secure in the belief that the only thing an opportunist requires in life is an opportunity.

The Guardian

"I don't know why this happened to me," she said, grimacing in pain as she gave a bewildered account of the gunplay that has engulfed her neighborhood and much of this oil-drenched city.

The New York Times

Installing the software involves bewildering demands for account numbers, passwords, user names and encryption keys.

The New York Times - Science

Guardian America's extraordinary project, the Counted, set out to fill a bewildering gap in public accounting in the United States.

The Guardian

Whatever the view of Khrushchev's personal eccentricities, his boisterousness, his vulgarity, and his bewildering shifts, he was accounted a man of stature.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It was not clear whether this took account of the bewildering range of perks they enjoy.

The Economist

The fact that pathogenic bacteria are constantly battling their host's immune system might account for the bewildering number of different strains, or types, of bacteria that belong to the same species but are distinguishable by serological tests.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Every day the U.S. Treasury tracks tax collections, the national debt and assorted Federal trust accounts with two bewildering pages of numbers.

The New York Times

Desmond Nair, presiding at the Pistorius hearing, took more than two hours to review the evidence in the killing of Ms. Steenkamp, swinging back and forth in a meandering — and often bewildering — fashion between the contending accounts of Ms. Steenkamp's death offered by Mr. Pistorius's legal counsel and those put forward by the police.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience when using "bewildering account". If writing for a general audience, you might want to provide additional context or simplify the complex information being discussed.

Common error

Avoid using "bewildering account" without clearly specifying what aspect of the account is bewildering. Ensure the reader understands what's causing the confusion; otherwise, the phrase loses its impact and can confuse the reader further.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bewildering account" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "bewildering" modifies "account". The purpose is to describe the account as confusing or perplexing. According to Ludwig, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bewildering account" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a narrative or explanation that is confusing. Ludwig AI affirms its validity. While not exceedingly common, it appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. When using "bewildering account", be sure to specify clearly what makes the account bewildering to enhance clarity. Alternatives such as "confusing narrative" or "puzzling explanation" may be considered for slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perplexing account

Swaps "bewildering" with a direct synonym.

confusing narrative

Focuses on the narrative being difficult to follow.

baffling story

Highlights the story's ability to confuse.

puzzling explanation

Highlights the perplexing nature of the explanation.

incomprehensible story

Emphasizes the story's lack of understandability.

unclear report

Indicates a lack of clarity in the reported information.

muddled description

Suggests the description is mixed up and disordered.

disconcerting narrative

Emphasizes the unsettling nature of the narrative.

opaque narrative

Uses a more formal tone to describe the narrative as difficult to see through.

complex and confusing explanation

Expands on the phrase emphasizing both complexity and confusion.

FAQs

How can I use "bewildering account" in a sentence?

You can use "bewildering account" to describe a narrative or explanation that is confusing or difficult to understand. For example, "The witness gave a "bewildering account" of the accident, making it difficult to determine what actually happened."

What's a good alternative to "bewildering account"?

Alternatives include "confusing narrative", "puzzling explanation", or "incomprehensible story" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "bewildering account" formal or informal?

"Bewildering account" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It can be used in news articles, academic papers, or casual conversation, depending on the surrounding language and tone.

What makes an account "bewildering"?

An account can be "bewildering" if it is disorganized, contains contradictory information, presents complex details without sufficient explanation, or uses language that is difficult to understand. The effect is a state of confusion in the listener or reader.