dissect

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "dissect" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb that means to carefully examine or investigate (something) in minute detail. For example, "The scientist dissected the mouse to see how different organs reacted to the virus."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In his autobiographical novel, The Kindness of Women, JG Ballard glosses his experience of dissection as a Cambridge medical student thus: "As the four teams began to dissect this unknown woman, opening flaps of skin in her limbs, neck and abdomen, she seemed to undress in a last act of self-revelation, unpacking herself of all the mortal elements of her life".

The Guardian - Arts

This will be short story 2. Week 15: The novel - Monday 11 January Students will have already been set two contrasting novels to read and in this session we will dissect how they work from a writer's craft rather than an academic point of view.

The Guardian

So, two weeks out from defending his French Open title and just shy of his 29th birthday, it was no surprise to hear him dissect his travails here with typical candour.

The Guardian - Sport

There is no Julian Assange-like messiah complex for cod-psychologists to dissect, and money doesn't appear to matter much to him.

The Guardian

Their timing was so superb and they had the ability to dissect a subject like a scalpel".

The Guardian

But it is dominated by manufacturing.The duo carefully dissect America's labour-force figures and find that tradables have contributed almost nothing to American job creation since 1990.

The Economist

Human folly never seems quite so foolish as when it is losing tons of money.Michael Lewis, the author of "Liar's Poker", is the ideal writer to dissect the behaviour that led to the current credit crunch.

The Economist

It is now the largest creditor to the world that it previously shunned.Attempts to dissect this economic "miracle" often focus intently on the aftermath of the second world war.

The Economist

Andrew Dillon, the agency's chief executive, accepts that "the NICE model is not transportable in precise form" but he still insists that "one can dissect and apply what is relevant to other countries".In America, the drugs and devices lobbies are violently opposed to a NICE-style agency that could issue mandatory rulings.

The Economist

From there, they began to dissect the rule of President Issaias Afwerki and the small group who run the ruling party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), the post-independence face of the Eritrean liberation movement.

The Economist

When polls dissect his image, his strengths are his energy, courage, dynamism and determination.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dissect" in an abstract context, ensure the subject of your analysis is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "dissect" is appropriate for formal analysis, consider using less intense verbs like "examine" or "analyze" in casual contexts to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

Dissect primarily functions as a verb, indicating the act of carefully cutting apart an animal or plant for study, or, more broadly, to analyze something in great detail. As Ludwig AI highlights, the word is frequently employed in diverse contexts, ranging from scientific research to literary analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

8%

Wiki

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "dissect" is a verb used to describe the act of cutting apart an animal or plant for scientific study, or, more broadly, to analyze something meticulously. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s grammatically correct and widely used. Its usage spans various contexts from science and medicine to literary and political analysis, as evidenced by its frequent appearance in sources like The Economist and The Guardian. While generally appropriate for formal and neutral registers, writers should consider more casual alternatives like "analyze" or "examine" in informal settings. Remember to clearly define the subject of your analysis when using the word in an abstract context. Overall, "dissect" is a powerful and versatile word when used with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

analyze meticulously

This alternative emphasizes the thoroughness and care taken in the analysis process.

scrutinize closely

This alternative suggests a very detailed and critical examination.

break down methodically

This alternative highlights the step-by-step, organized approach to analysis.

examine minutely

This alternative stresses the attention to small details during the examination.

investigate thoroughly

This alternative indicates a comprehensive and in-depth investigation.

explore in detail

This alternative emphasizes a deep and comprehensive exploration of the subject.

deconstruct analytically

This alternative highlights the process of breaking down and analyzing the components of something.

parse systematically

This alternative suggests a structured and organized approach to understanding something.

decode rigorously

This alternative emphasizes the intense and careful process of uncovering meaning.

assess exhaustively

This alternative implies a complete and thorough evaluation.

FAQs

How can I use "dissect" in a sentence?

You can use "dissect" to describe a detailed analysis, as in "The critic will "analyze meticulously" the film's themes" or to describe the physical act of cutting apart an organism, as in "The students will "examine minutely" a frog in biology class".

What are some alternatives to the word "dissect"?

Depending on the context, you could use "analyze", "scrutinize", or "investigate" as alternatives to "dissect".

Is "dissect" only used in a scientific context?

No, while "dissect" is often used in scientific contexts to describe the physical examination of organisms, it can also be used in a more abstract sense to describe the detailed analysis of ideas, texts, or situations.

What is the difference between "dissect" and "analyze"?

"Dissect" implies a more detailed and often critical examination, breaking something down into its component parts, while "analyze" is a more general term for examining something to understand its nature.