clear of articles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clear of articles" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that something does not contain any articles, such as in writing or grammar discussions. Example: "Please ensure that your essay is clear of articles to maintain a more formal tone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If you buy exactly the same book online for £6, virtually nothing (as we have recently discovered) will contribute to the general good, and you might have to steer clear of articles in the Guardian about the poor conditions in the online retailers' fulfilment centres.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

This is a clear violation of articles 253 and 254 of the Constitution of Haiti.

Huffington Post

To my mind, that is a clear breach of article 17, which calls on states to respect the "integrity" of disabled people.

The Guardian

The firm argues that "the actions of the secretary of state … represent a clear violation of article 6 [of the European convention on human rights] and the rule of law, as an interference in the judicial process by the legislature".

The Guardian

On his Facebook page, Aswany said the case against him was "a clear violation of article 65 of the Egyptian constitution[pdf], which states, 'Freedom of thought and opinion is guaranteed.

The Guardian - Books

It would be impossible to call this due process under any circumstances, but it is also a clear violation of Article 17 of Paraguay's constitution, which provides for the right to an adequate defense.

The Guardian - Opinion

The law firm Public Interest Lawyers has since initiated a second court action to judicially review the retrospective law, saying it undermines its clients' right to justice and represents a clear violation of article 6 of the European convention on human rights.

The Guardian

In a letter to President Vicente Fox of Mexico, who had personally appealed for the sentence to be commuted, Mr. Keating acknowledged that the failure of Oklahoma officials to advise the inmate, Gerardo Valdez, of his right to contact Mexican diplomats was a "clear violation" of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Rights, which the United States has ratified.

The New York Times

Served upon DWP officials on Tuesday morning, the letter read: "The action of the secretary of state … represents a clear violation of article 6. "The secretary of state procured parliament's intervention in order to resolve a judicial review, to which he was a party, in his favour, before its final conclusion.

The Guardian

United States District Court Judge Ricardo Martinez denied the request for arbitration on October 29, saying that the "arguments ignore the clear language of Article II, which states that PBC's use and occupancy rights with respect to the Premises and the Term of this Agreement shall end on September 30, 2010".

Wikipedia

If inclusion was not immediately clear, full texts of articles were retrieved and reviewed.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for concise writing, intentionally use the phrase "clear of articles" to signal a lack of unnecessary articles (a, an, the) to maintain formality or adhere to specific stylistic guidelines.

Common error

Avoid using "clear of articles" in casual writing; it can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for more natural phrasing unless strict grammatical precision is required.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clear of articles" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used to describe something that is free from or devoid of articles (a, an, the). As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase "indicates avoidance" or absence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "clear of articles" functions as a prepositional phrase, used to describe the absence of articles (a, an, the) in writing. Ludwig AI reports that this phrase is grammatically correct. It's most common in formal and scientific contexts within News & Media, Science, and Academia, used to specify writing styles. Alternatives include "free from articles" and "without articles". Use it deliberately for conciseness, but avoid overuse in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

free from articles

This alternative directly replaces "clear of" with "free from", maintaining the core meaning of absence.

without articles

This alternative uses "without" to express the lack of articles, offering a more concise phrasing.

excluding articles

This alternative emphasizes the act of leaving out articles, suitable when the removal is intentional.

devoid of articles

This alternative uses "devoid of" for a stronger emphasis on the absence of articles, suggesting a complete lack.

avoiding articles

This alternative shifts the focus to actively staying away from articles, which may imply a stylistic choice.

absent of articles

Similar to "devoid of", this option highlights the non-existence of articles, but is somewhat less common.

article-free

This is a compound adjective expressing the state of being without articles, typically used adjectivally.

excluding certain writings

This expands the concept to exclude specified forms of writings. Broader scope.

steering clear of essays

Emphasizes intentional avoidance of essay forms, shifting from a general category to a specific one.

independent of paragraphs

Indicates no dependence on specific paragraph structures.

FAQs

How can I use "clear of articles" in a sentence?

You can use "clear of articles" to describe writing that omits articles, such as in the sentence: "Please ensure your summary is "clear of articles" to maintain a concise style."

What does it mean for writing to be "clear of articles"?

For writing to be "clear of articles" means it does not include the definite article "the" or the indefinite articles "a" and "an". This can result in a more concise or stylistically distinct form of expression.

Which is correct, "clear of articles" or "free of articles"?

Both ""clear of articles"" and "free of articles" are grammatically correct. "Free of articles" is generally more common and sounds slightly more natural, while "clear of articles" can emphasize intentional avoidance.

When should I aim to write something that is "clear of articles"?

You should aim to write something that is "clear of articles" when adhering to specific stylistic guidelines (such as in technical writing or summaries) that prioritize brevity and conciseness, or when you are trying to make a point about grammar itself.