black as red

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "black as red" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may confuse readers due to the contradictory nature of the colors. Example: "The sky was black as red during the sunset, creating a surreal atmosphere."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

(a) Responsivity (experimental) spectra for BS (black), AS (red) photodetectors.

Nano Convergence

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The experimental optical spectra of BS (black) and AS (red) embedded in PDMS: (d) transmittance, (e) reflectance, and (f) absorptance.

Nano Convergence

Will, with his baffling metaphors, is amusing and has the best joke of the night: "I tell you, I'm black" (as opposed to red, or white, which is what Rita thinks he is).

The Guardian - TV & Radio

She tries on multiple lipsticks (bright pink, classic red, dark black) as well as multiple personalities: a confident and sex-aggressive femme, a casual party girl ready for shots, and (most inexplicably but hilariously), a woman with a British accent.

Vice

Also, yellow is apparently the new black as well, because the new Touch comes in yellow, as well as blue, black and red.

The New York Times

General Kimmitt told reporters that none of the routes in Iraq were now classified by the military as "black" or "red," meaning too dangerous to use.

The New York Times

HER2 gene and chromosome 17 single copies were visualized as black dots and as red dots, respectively.

Cancer Medicine

There is a white rectangle above a black, and black above white, as well as black above red, blue, yellow or green.

The New York Times - Arts

You can't wrong with short(or long if you like) nails that are painted a dark color such as black, red of any kind, plum, purples, and dark blues.

WikiHow

For the dress code use a kimono dress code for your Hello kitty and decorate and paint it with black and dark colors such as red.

WikiHow

It follows that the library contains as many red books as the total books in its collection, and as many red books as black books, and as many red books as red and black books combined.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you need to use "black as red", consider rephrasing to something more conventional like "dark red" or use it intentionally for artistic purposes to convey a sense of paradox or surrealism.

Common error

Unless you're aiming for deliberate ambiguity or surrealism, avoid using "black as red" as it is not a standard English expression and can confuse readers. Opt for clearer descriptions such as "dark red" or "reddish-black".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "black as red" primarily functions as a descriptive element, although its contradictory nature makes it unusual. Ludwig AI reports this is not a correct phrase. It is most likely used to create a sense of paradox or surrealism in creative contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "black as red" might appear in various sources, Ludwig AI states that it's not a grammatically correct or commonly accepted expression. Its contradictory nature means it is best reserved for creative writing, where paradox or unusual imagery is desired. In most other contexts, it's better to use more conventional and clear descriptions such as "dark red" or "reddish-black" to avoid confusing your audience. Overall, use this expression with caution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reddish-black

Describes a color that is a mix of red and black, focusing on the resulting hue.

dark red

Specifies a shade of red that is closer to black in terms of darkness.

crimson as night

Uses a simile to compare the redness to the darkness of night, emphasizing the intensity of the red.

ebony red

Contrasts the darkness of ebony with the color red, highlighting the unusual combination.

a paradox of color

Refers to the phrase as a contradiction in terms.

an impossible hue

Highlights the unrealistic or imaginary nature of the color combination.

the color of a contradiction

Emphasizes the conflicting nature of the description.

as opposite as colors can be

Highlights the contrast between colors in general.

where black meets red

Focuses on the interaction or blending of black and red.

black tinged with red

Describes black with subtle red highlights.

FAQs

Is "black as red" grammatically correct?

The phrase "black as red" is not a standard or commonly accepted expression in English. It is considered grammatically questionable as it creates a contradictory image. It might be used in a creative or artistic context to suggest something paradoxical, but it's generally best to avoid it in formal writing.

What does "black as red" mean?

The phrase "black as red" doesn't have a standard meaning. It is often interpreted as a paradoxical or surreal expression, possibly referring to a very dark shade of red or a situation where colors are unexpectedly combined. Its interpretation is highly dependent on context.

What can I say instead of "black as red"?

Depending on the intended meaning, you could use phrases like "dark red", "reddish-black", or even a more descriptive phrase like "a shade of red so deep it almost appears black".

In what contexts might "black as red" be appropriate?

The phrase "black as red" might be appropriate in artistic writing, poetry, or contexts where the intention is to create a sense of surrealism, paradox, or unusual imagery. It should be used cautiously in more formal or technical writing where clarity is paramount.