blur of dust

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "blur of dust" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a visual effect where dust is stirred up, creating a hazy or indistinct appearance, often in a dynamic context like movement or action. Example: "As the car sped down the dirt road, a blur of dust followed in its wake, obscuring the view behind."

✓ Grammatically correct

Unicef

The Washington Post

Forbes

The New Yorker

The New York Times - Arts

The New Yorker

The New York Times - Arts

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The New Yorker

The New York Times

The New Yorker

The New York Times

Princeton University

The New York Times

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Guardian

The New Yorker

TechCrunch

Lingua Sinica

International Journal of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

International Journal of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Huffington Post

Huffington Post

Huffington Post

Environmental Health Perspectives

Environmental Health Perspectives

WikiHow

The Washington Post

The Washington Post

The New Yorker

The New York Times

The Guardian - Film

The Washington Post

The New York Times

The Guardian - Sport

The Guardian - Arts

The New Yorker

The New York Times - Arts

The Guardian - Music

Forbes

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

WikiHow

The New York Times - Books

Los Angeles Times

BMC Genomics

Huffington Post

HuffPost

Cancer Imaging

Emerging Infectious Diseases

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Critical Care

BMC Biology

BMC Evolutionary Biology

WikiHow

Pattern Recognition Letters

Forbes

Science Magazine

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In a blur of dust and dancing figures, the entire population of this village streamed onto the main road, white-robed women ululating and swaying, children running and clapping.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The noise from the crowd swells as the two birds rush at each other in a blur of feathers and dust.

The Washington Post

Clouds of dust blur any hope of a horizon over the hills that line the border between Washington and Oregon, and the dry soil does little but stubbornly yield a crop of wheat in a good year.

Forbes

My 20s became a blur of debt.

Forbes

The blur effect is a result of dust and convection waves rising off the desert floor.

The New Yorker

Ceal Floyer presents a slide projector throwing white light onto a wall; its automatic focus causes shadows of dust on the lens to rhythmically blur and sharpen as though the machine itself were breathing.

The New York Times - Arts

and dust, tanks, tempests, temples of dust.

The New Yorker

On one level she's the picture of angularity, lurching fast across the stage, her strumming hand visible only as a blur: a dust devil in a platinum bob.

The New York Times - Arts

Everything smelled of dust.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

One atom of dust?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

A speck of dust?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "blur of dust" to vividly describe scenes involving rapid movement, construction, or dry environments, where dust is significantly affecting visibility and creating a sense of motion or chaos. For example, "The race car disappeared in a blur of dust as it sped around the track."

Common error

Avoid using "blur of dust" to describe static situations or where dust is merely present without causing a noticeable visual distortion. It's best suited for dynamic settings where the dust is actively obscuring vision or adding to a sense of commotion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "blur of dust" functions primarily as a noun phrase that describes a visual effect. It is often used to depict a scene where visibility is reduced due to the presence and movement of dust. Ludwig AI shows its use to create vivid imagery of movement or obscured vision.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "blur of dust" is a descriptive noun phrase used to depict scenes where dust obscures vision, often associated with movement or activity. According to Ludwig AI, it's considered grammatically correct and can be used effectively to add vivid imagery to your writing. While its occurrence is relatively rare, it finds its place in news, media, and scientific writing. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a dynamic scenario where dust noticeably affects visibility. Alternatives like "cloud of dust" or "haze of dust" may be used based on the specific context. This phrase is helpful in conveying a sense of chaos or motion in a visually descriptive manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

haze of dust

Focuses on the atmospheric effect of dust, emphasizing a lack of clarity.

cloud of dust

Emphasizes the aggregated mass of dust particles.

dust cloud

A simple reversal of words to describe a cloud filled with dust.

swirl of dust

Highlights the movement or swirling action of the dust.

dust haze

Focuses on the effect dust has on visibility, causing a haze.

film of dust

Suggests a thin layer of dust covering a surface.

layer of dust

Highlights the dust forming a coating or stratum on a surface.

smog of dust

Implies a dense concentration of dust similar to smog.

dust storm

Refers to a large-scale weather event involving significant amounts of dust.

dust devil

Describes a small, rotating whirlwind of dust.

FAQs

How can I use "blur of dust" in a sentence?

Use "blur of dust" to describe situations where dust is stirred up, creating a hazy or indistinct appearance, often due to movement or action. For instance, "The motorcycle vanished in a blur of dust as it raced across the desert."

What are some alternatives to "blur of dust"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "cloud of dust", "haze of dust", or "swirl of dust".

When is it appropriate to use "blur of dust" instead of "dust cloud"?

"Blur of dust" is best used when emphasizing the visual distortion caused by moving dust, whereas "dust cloud" simply refers to a mass of dust particles. The phrase "blur of dust" implies movement and obscured vision.

Is "blur of dust" a formal or informal expression?

"Blur of dust" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is more commonly found in descriptive or narrative writing than in technical or academic texts.