captivating to see

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "captivating to see" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something visually appealing or interesting that draws attention. Example: "The sunset over the mountains was truly captivating to see, with vibrant colors painting the sky."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Saturday's long program will count for two-thirds, and it will be captivating to see whether Kwan can match the eight perfect scores she received for her long program in 1998 at the national championships.

The New York Times - Sports

Back then, Paul was young, barely into Version I, but it was still captivating to see it use facial recognition technology to isolate a visitor's visage, then reproduce it in ink as a carefully calculated line drawing.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

And it's captivating, to say the least.

TechCrunch

Blake illustrated the lengthy work himself, and the images run the gamut from bizarrely captivating to just plain weird (see above).

The New Yorker

Which do you think is more captivating to fans?

TechCrunch

With this definition in mind, one may understand why Renaissance humanists and painters assigned themselves such self-consciously heroic roles: in their artistic ability to delight, to captivate, to convince, they saw themselves as enfranchised directors and remakers of culture.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This powerfully danced version, tightly choreographed, beautifully designed (by the Oscar-winning Tim Yip) and musically rich (composed by Du Wei, with the Paris-based composer Chen Qigang as consultant) is also likely to captivate anyone able to see it.

The New York Times - Arts

At Drop In Bar, the longest running bar on Haad Rin Nok beach, you have the opportunity to see captivating fire shows and are highly encouraged to partake in fire jump roping.

Huffington Post

While the final pages of his legacy remain blank, a captivated audience is eager to see how everything turns out.

Los Angeles Times

From sailors to scientists to taxi drivers ― scroll below to see 40 captivating photos of women working around the world.  .

Huffington Post

While the third season failed at writing a captivating mystery, we did get to see lots of the rich supporting cast of Veronica Mars, which is where the movie revival failed.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "captivating to see" when you want to emphasize the visually appealing or interesting aspect of something that draws attention. For example, "The dance performance was captivating to see."

Common error

Avoid using "captivating to see" in overly formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, it can sometimes sound less sophisticated than alternatives like "enthralling to observe" or "visually striking". Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "captivating to see" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, describing something that is visually appealing or interesting. It emphasizes the visual impact and attractiveness of the subject, as supported by examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "captivating to see" is a grammatically sound and visually descriptive expression used to convey that something is exceptionally appealing or interesting to look at. Although deemed correct by Ludwig, this expression is relatively rare but is well-suited for News & Media. For more formal writing, there are alternative expressions such as "enthralling to observe" or "visually striking". Keep in mind the stylistic nuances and context when choosing the best phrase for your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

visually appealing to watch

Emphasizes the visual aspect and the act of watching.

enthralling to observe

Uses a more formal word ("enthralling") and "observe" instead of "see".

fascinating to witness

Replaces "captivating" with "fascinating" and "see" with "witness".

compelling to behold

Uses "compelling" and the more archaic "behold" for a slightly different tone.

arresting to view

Replaces "captivating" with "arresting" and "see" with "view".

delightful to look at

Focuses on the pleasurable aspect of seeing something.

riveting to gaze upon

Uses "riveting" and "gaze upon" for a more intense visual experience.

mesmerizing to watch

Highlights the hypnotic quality of the visual experience.

striking to observe

Emphasizes the impactful nature of what is being seen.

wonderful to perceive

Emphasizes the sensory experience of perceiving something visual.

FAQs

How can I use "captivating to see" in a sentence?

You can use "captivating to see" to describe something that is visually appealing or interesting and holds your attention. For example, "The fireworks display over the harbor was truly captivating to see".

What are some alternatives to "captivating to see"?

Some alternatives include "visually appealing to watch", "fascinating to witness", or "enthralling to observe", depending on the context.

Is "captivating to see" formal or informal?

"Captivating to see" falls in a neutral register, suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic writing.

What makes something "captivating to see"?

Something that is "captivating to see" possesses qualities that strongly attract and hold one's attention through its visual presentation, whether through beauty, intrigue, or unique characteristics.