contrive from

USAGE SUMMARY

"Contrive from" is not a standard phrase in written English. It may be used in contexts discussing the origin or derivation of something, but it is uncommon. Example: "The idea seemed to contrive from a mix of inspiration and necessity." Alternative expressions include "derive from" and "originate from."

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A judge's son from Ohio, Dawes organized the 6th Wisconsin in Juneau County, Wisc., and served it as officer from its high-spirited start nearly to its shattered end, witnessing with his men all the wrenching scenes war can contrive, from the charnel panorama of one battlefield after another, to the stark fate of a young soldier dying from sheer exhaustion.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The script is a mere eight pages contrived from disjointed literary citations and harshly poetic declamations.

The New York Times

The exaggerated hip-hop look was contrived from brand name, off-the-rack clothes in outsize proportions.

The New York Times - Style

My feeling about The Hour, reeking of quality as it undoubtedly did, was that it felt a bit contrived from the start, and was palpably running out of steam in the middle of the second series.

The Guardian - Opinion

Beside him, a "coldforger... contriving from cold slag brute in the crucible a face that will pass, an image that will render this residual specie current in the markets where men barter".

The Guardian - Books

In 1959, when he was 23 and just out of Princeton, he exhibited his historic "Black Paintings" -- severe, ruler-perfect pictures contrived from wide black stripes -- at the Modern.

The New York Times - Magazine

This is evidence that the company's growth and profitability are genuine, not contrived from accounting gimmickry.

Forbes

A third structure was contrived from spare materials, to serve as a magnetic observation hut.

Wikipedia

But though the Olympian was the picture of masculinity, he had been contrived from the mind of a woman as a mechanism of survival.

Vice

Stacy R. Nigliazzo (SRN): The title was contrived from the following line in the poem "The Smell of Burning Matches": The sky cracks / and the scissored moon cries.

HuffPost

First, the assumptions made in Section 2 are rather contrived from a modeling point of view and one would like to consider more complex transitions e.g. gradual transitions between recognizable but not necessarily strictly homogeneous zones.

Bulletin of Mathematical Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "contrive from", ensure the context clearly indicates that something is being deliberately planned or managed from specific elements. Consider alternative phrases like "derive from" or "create from" for more common usage.

Common error

Avoid using "contrive from" excessively in formal writing. While grammatically correct, it can sound unnatural. Opt for alternatives such as "derive from" or "originate from" to maintain a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contrive from" functions as a verb phrase indicating the deliberate creation or management of something using specific elements. Ludwig's examples show the phrase's use in describing how things are constructed or derived.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

18%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "contrive from" is used to indicate that something is deliberately created or managed from specific elements. While grammatically correct, it is not a common phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. Alternative phrases such as "derive from", "create from", and "originate from" are often more suitable. When using "contrive from", ensure the context clearly indicates intentional planning. It appears most frequently in news media, science, and encyclopedia contexts. Consider using more common alternatives in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

derive from

Focuses on the origin or source of something; implies a more direct or natural relationship.

create from

Highlights the act of bringing something new into existence using specific materials or ideas.

fashion from

Suggests shaping or molding something from raw materials, often with skill or ingenuity.

develop from

Emphasizes growth or evolution from an initial state or concept.

construct from

Implies building or assembling something from various components in a deliberate manner.

extract from

Focuses on obtaining something from a larger source, often involving effort or processing.

formulate from

Suggests devising or creating something according to a specific plan or method.

synthesize from

Emphasizes combining different elements into a unified whole.

arrange from

Focuses on organizing or adapting something from existing components or ideas.

build from

Implies incrementally adding to something, layer by layer, from a foundation.

FAQs

How can I use "contrive from" in a sentence?

You can use "contrive from" to describe how something is deliberately created or managed from certain elements. For example: "The plot was contrived from a series of unlikely coincidences."

What is a good alternative to "contrive from"?

Alternatives to "contrive from" include phrases such as "derive from", "create from", or "originate from", depending on the specific meaning you intend to convey.

Is "contrive from" commonly used in English?

No, "contrive from" is not a commonly used phrase in English. It is grammatically correct but less frequent than alternatives like "derive from".

When is it appropriate to use "contrive from"?

It is appropriate to use "contrive from" when you want to emphasize that something has been deliberately planned or managed using specific elements. However, consider whether a more common alternative like "develop from" might be more suitable.