describes that of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "describes that of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when explaining or detailing the characteristics or qualities of something in relation to another subject. Example: "The report describes that of the previous study, highlighting the similarities and differences in findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The joke makes no sense at all, but Klein's situation pretty much describes that of the theatre-complex audience in a lousy movie season, pulled along and hoping for something more redolent of pleasure.

The New Yorker

She seems right about this, which means the inherently risky contradiction she describes, that of a massive, government-backed, socialistic housing sector inside an increasingly competitive, largely deregulated capitalistic, individualist economy, will continue to beset us for a good while longer.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Any dog owner could tell you that dogs have personalities, and could describe that of their own pooch.

The Economist

The document describes that one of the "core elements" of Spider-Man is that "he is a heterosexual Caucasian male".

Huffington Post

He describes that early version of the product as a simpler version of Shopify.

TechCrunch

'A bit of danger, a bit of excitement', was how she described that attraction of steeplechasing.

The Guardian

Many of the failed co-ops described that turn of events as their undoing.

The New York Times

The authors describe that course of treatment as "a prescription for tragedy".

The New York Times - Health

(The Times, in its obituary, described that part of her life as "Dickensian").

The New Yorker

It had an amazing way of describing that life, and had an amazing way of visually describing that.

Huffington Post

And yet describing Donna's impact on me is nearly as impossible as describing that of a parent; she seems equally essential to my DNA.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "describes that of", ensure the comparison is clear and the subjects being compared are explicitly stated to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The author's writing style describes that of Hemingway, with short, declarative sentences."

Common error

Avoid using "describes that of" in sentences where a simpler verb like "is" or "represents" would suffice. This phrase is best reserved for comparisons where you are highlighting specific shared characteristics, not just stating a basic fact. Use simpler sentences like "this is" in most cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "describes that of" functions as a comparative connector, linking a subject with a set of attributes that are mirrored in another subject. Ludwig provides examples that illustrate this usage, emphasizing comparisons of characteristics.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "describes that of" is a grammatically sound phrase used to draw comparisons between the attributes of two different subjects. As shown by Ludwig, it appears mainly in news and media contexts and is best used when highlighting specific, shared characteristics rather than just indicating general similarity. While grammatically correct, the phrase is not very common and should be used judiciously to avoid redundancy in simpler descriptive sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

characterizes that of

Replaces "describes" with "characterizes", emphasizing distinctive qualities.

depicts that of

Substitutes "describes" with "depicts", focusing on visual representation or portrayal.

represents that of

Uses "represents" instead of "describes", highlighting a symbolic or representative relationship.

illustrates that of

Replaces "describes" with "illustrates", stressing the use of examples to clarify.

details that of

Substitutes "describes" with "details", focusing on providing specific and comprehensive information.

outlines that of

Replaces "describes" with "outlines", highlighting a summarized or schematic representation.

portrays that of

Similar to depicts but it focuses on portraying in art or literature

captures that of

Uses captures as the focus is to represent in a complete and faithful way

mirrors that of

Replaces "describes" with "mirrors", highlighting a reflection or close resemblance.

is akin to that of

Uses "is akin to" to show similarity or likeness instead of directly describing.

FAQs

How can I use "describes that of" in a sentence?

Use "describes that of" when you want to compare the attributes or characteristics of one thing to another. For instance, "The painting's color palette describes that of a vibrant sunset."

What are some alternatives to "describes that of"?

You can use alternatives such as "characterizes that of", "depicts that of", or "represents that of" depending on the specific context.

Is it always necessary to use "describes that of" when comparing two things?

No, it's not always necessary. Simpler verbs like "resembles" or "mirrors" can often convey the same meaning more concisely. Use "describes that of" when you want to emphasize the specific attributes being compared.

What is the difference between "describes that of" and "is similar to"?

"Describes that of" is used to highlight specific shared attributes, while "is similar to" simply indicates a general resemblance. "Describes that of" is more detailed, focusing on particular characteristics.