caught a glance of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "caught a glance of" is not standard in written English; the correct expression is "caught a glimpse of." You can use it when referring to seeing something briefly or momentarily.
Example: "As I walked by the window, I caught a glimpse of the beautiful sunset."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Terrible in new and inventively terrible ways, ways that seemed to baffle the teacher and any classmates who caught a glance of my canvases," wrote Molly Lambert in an archetypal "This Recording" post last February, her words intercut at paragraph intervals with pretty thematic photos to rest your eyes on.

MIT Technology Review

I had caught a glance of Frings who looked like he had no idea what was happening, but whatever it was, it wasn't going to be good.

Huffington Post

The "Newsroom" actor made the surprise announcement on Thursday night during a visit to "The Late Late Show with James Corden" ― if you're gonna do it, do it big ― when the host caught a glance of his wedding ring. .

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I was with my nephew and … hoping to catch a glance of a famous politician.

The Guardian

And if you occasionally catch a glance of yourself in the mirror and say "woah, what happened there?", that's okay, too.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In the hours leading up to the Dalai Lama's session, Tibetan people lined up outside the gate to the front lawns, holding red roses, hopeful to catch a glance of their exiled spiritual leader on his way in.

The New York Times

During the evening ceremony, Murasaki Shikibu catches a glance of the queen, remarking that she appeared weary, having lost weight and gaining a pale complexion.

Wikipedia

As I flushed the last of the ice cream down the toilet, I happened to catch a glance of my face in the oversized vanity mirror.

Huffington Post

Over the summer, her snapshot was frequently taken by joggers and homeowners excited to catch a glance of the local celebrity and her brood of cubs.

Los Angeles Times

As I toured the museum, I'd catch a glance, out of a window, of the Washington Monument, and I was reminded that this massive, beautiful building full of small, extraordinary moments of learning, joy and sorrow was deep in the heart of the Mall, occupying territory where so often African American stories have been absent.

The Washington Post

Glancing skyward, I caught a glimpse of something brown flapping away.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "caught a glance of" is used, consider "caught a glimpse of" for more grammatically standard writing. However, maintain your voice and context appropriate to the style of the text.

Common error

Be aware that while "glance" refers to the act of looking quickly, "glimpse" refers to a brief or incomplete view. Using "glimpse" is typically more accurate and grammatically sound in similar contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "caught a glance of" functions as a verb phrase indicating a brief or partial visual experience. Although not considered grammatically standard, as Ludwig AI points out, it appears in contexts where a quick, often unintentional, observation is described.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "caught a glance of" is used to describe a brief visual encounter, it is not considered grammatically standard. Ludwig AI suggests using "caught a "glimpse of"" as a more grammatically sound alternative. The phrase is primarily found in news and media contexts. Despite its acceptable usage, writers should be aware of the subtle difference between "glance" (the act of looking) and "glimpse" (the brief view) and choose the most appropriate phrase for clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

caught a glimpse of

Replaces "glance" with "glimpse", implying a briefer, more fleeting view.

glimpsed

A single-word verb form, making the sentence more concise.

caught sight of

Uses "sight" instead of "glance", suggesting a slightly more prolonged or noticeable observation.

caught a fleeting view of

Adds 'fleeting' to emphasize the brief duration and substitutes "glance" with "view".

spotted

A simpler, more direct synonym for seeing something quickly.

noticed briefly

Explicitly states the brief nature of the observation.

observed momentarily

Similar to 'noticed briefly' but with a more formal tone.

had a quick look at

More conversational way of saying someone saw something briefly.

saw for a second

Emphasizes the short duration of the visual experience.

perceived briefly

A more formal and less common way of expressing a quick observation.

FAQs

What is the difference between "caught a glance of" and "caught a glimpse of"?

While both phrases suggest a brief view, "caught a "glimpse of"" is the more standard and widely accepted form. "Glance" refers to the act of looking, while "glimpse" refers to the brief, partial view itself.

Is "caught a glance of" grammatically correct?

Although "caught a glance of" is used, it's not considered strictly grammatically correct. A better alternative is "caught a "glimpse of"".

What are some alternatives to "caught a glance of"?

Alternatives include "caught "sight of"", "spotted", or simply "glimpsed", depending on the context.

How can I use "caught a "glimpse of"" in a sentence?

Example: "As I walked past the window, I caught a glimpse of the sunset."