described of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "described of" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It is incorrect because the proper preposition to use with "described" is "as" or "in terms of," depending on the context. Example: "The painting was described as a masterpiece of modern art."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You know what I've just described, of course: l'affaire D.S.K.

The New York Times

Historians have differed about the chauvinism (or "patriotism" as it is more pleasantly described) of Emmeline and Christabel during the 1914-18 war.

The Guardian

"There was so little described of the guy that, of course, it had to be me," he said.

The New York Times

This contrasts with the Sale of Goods Act, which states that goods people purchase must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose, and which forces retailers to fix any problems.

The Guardian - Money

The primary narcissism Freud described, of the early infant with no cognisance of other beings beyond its own borders is our common understanding of the term – the self-involved, easily-bored craver of adulation.

The Guardian

They never made the mistake of thinking that the behaviour they described – of subconscious biases and illogical choices that skewed markets and misunderstood risk – did not also apply to themselves.

The Guardian - Books

I recognise the emotion that Bowie described of his time in Berlin, "a sense of yearning for a future that we all knew would never come to pass".

Independent

A strategy is described of how to use the DEI parameter during early lead optimization.

Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Three cases were described of previously undiagnosed hemophilia A males circumcised during routine VMMC service delivery.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Isothermal transport is described of a multicomponent gas mixture in a capillary.

Chemical Engineering Science

Few cases have been described of IMTs arising from the muscles [40].

Insights into Imaging

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "described of" in your writing. Instead, use the correct preposition "as" or "in terms of" after "described" to ensure grammatical accuracy. For example, use "described as a key factor" or "described in terms of its impact".

Common error

Don't mistakenly use "of" after "described". The correct preposition is usually "as" when providing a description or "in terms of" when specifying the context of the description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "described of" incorrectly attempts to link a verb (described) with a preposition. It aims to express a description but fails grammatically, as highlighted by Ludwig AI. The correct usage involves prepositions like "as" or "in terms of."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "described of" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. The correct alternatives include "described as" or "described in terms of", depending on the intended meaning. While some examples can be found across Science and News & Media, this doesn't legitimize its use. Always prioritize correct grammar to ensure clear and effective communication. Using the proper alternatives ensures clarity and maintains credibility in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

described as

Replaces the preposition "of" with "as" to form a grammatically correct and common phrase.

described in terms of

Uses "in terms of" to specify the perspective or criteria used in the description.

characterized by

Focuses on the distinguishing features that define the subject being described.

portrayed as

Emphasizes the way something is represented or depicted.

defined as

Highlights the essential qualities or meaning of something.

depicted as

Similar to portrayed, but can also refer to visual representations.

represented as

Suggests a more formal or symbolic depiction.

specified as

Focuses on providing precise details or characteristics.

explained as

Indicates a clarification or interpretation of something.

identified as

Highlights the recognition or classification of something.

FAQs

How to correct the phrase "described of"?

The phrase "described of" is grammatically incorrect. You should use "described as" or "described in terms of" instead. For example, instead of "The phenomenon described of in the study", use "The phenomenon "described as" in the study" or "The phenomenon described in terms of in the study".

What's the difference between "described as" and "described in terms of"?

"Described as" is used to give a general description, while "described in terms of" is used to provide a description from a particular perspective or using specific criteria. For instance, "The artwork was "described as" innovative" versus "The artwork was described in terms of its color palette".

Is "described by" a suitable alternative to "described of"?

While "described of" is incorrect, "described by" is grammatically sound but carries a different meaning. "Described by" indicates who or what is providing the description (e.g., "The method was described by Smith"), not the manner of description. Therefore, it's not a direct substitute for the intended meaning when someone incorrectly uses "described of".

When should I use "described in terms of" instead of "described as"?

Use "described in terms of" when you want to specify the framework, criteria, or parameters used for the description. This phrase is useful when providing a technical, analytical, or detailed explanation. For example, "The system's performance was "described in terms of" its efficiency and reliability".