erased from memory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "erased from memory" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that has been forgotten or removed from one's recollection. Example: "After the traumatic event, many details were simply erased from memory, leaving only a vague sense of confusion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Most Libyans see the 42 years of the colonel's rule as an ordeal to be erased from memory.

The Economist

Not in the florid sense of the word, as in exceptional, but in the most literal one: it can't be erased from memory.

The New Yorker

Often enough, no train would pass, as if that part of Argentina had been erased from memory as well as from the map.

The New Yorker

For some, the Yankees' quick ouster from last year's division series — a victory followed by three losses to the Detroit Tigers — has been all but erased from memory.

The New York Times

Russia's own role in fixing the terms of German unification was now erased from memory, replaced by a mythical sequence of unmediated aggressions whose ultimate purpose was to justify current Russian policy in the Ukraine.

The Guardian - Opinion

The delusion that we never had good growth until Reagan came along is very widespread on the right; somehow the whole postwar generation, in which everyone's incomes doubled, has been erased from memory.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

But such a black and white interpretation of history means erasing from memory the experiences of Bosnia and Rwanda.

Independent

Judaism, as seen in the figure of Kab, had an important role in shaping Islamic theology, a fact that many Jews and Muslims have chosen to forget or deliberately erase from memory.

The New York Times - Books

"To which moment might we wish to retreat, pull up our drawbridge, erase from memory what we ourselves, or the processes of nature and time, have wrought?" she asks, pointing out, too, the uncomfortable rhetoric of nationalism and violence that often accompanies the debate.

The Guardian - Books

But how can one erase from memory the horrifying scenes of the nighttime rocket attack on a peaceful town, the razing of entire city blocks, the deaths of people taking cover in basements, the destruction of ancient monuments and ancestral graves?

The New York Times

But there's also what Keating – and many Australians – might like to erase from memory: the painfully high household interest rates, a recession he said "we had to have" and the ousting of a sitting prime minister, every bit as dirty and as traumatic for the country as Julia Gillard's of Kevin Rudd and Rudd's of Gillard.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "erased from memory" when you want to emphasize that something has been completely forgotten, often due to trauma or a conscious effort to suppress the memory.

Common error

Avoid using "erased from memory" when simply forgetting something trivial. This phrase suggests a more profound level of forgetting, often associated with significant emotional or psychological impact. Forgetting where you placed your keys is not something that has been "erased from memory".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "erased from memory" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a passive construction, describing a state where something has been removed or forgotten from one's recollection. Ludwig confirms this with several real-world examples where events or details are described as being completely forgotten.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "erased from memory" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to describe something entirely forgotten, often due to significant emotional or psychological impact. Ludwig confirms the phrase's correctness and provides numerous examples from reputable sources. While versatile, it's best reserved for instances where the forgetting is profound, rather than trivial. As the usage analysis indicates, this phrase is commonly found in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Scientific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no longer remember

A straightforward and simple way to express forgetting.

cannot recall

Formal way of saying you cannot remember.

forgotten completely

Focuses on the state of being entirely forgotten.

vanished from my mind

Emphasizes the sudden disappearance from one's thoughts.

faded from consciousness

Highlights the gradual weakening of a memory until it's no longer accessible.

slipped my mind

Indicates a temporary lapse in memory.

passed from recollection

Suggests a more formal or distant kind of forgetting.

expunged from remembrance

Implies a deliberate and forceful removal from memory.

buried in oblivion

Evokes a sense of deep and irretrievable forgetting.

lost to the mists of time

Conveys a sense of being forgotten over a long period.

FAQs

How can I use "erased from memory" in a sentence?

You can use "erased from memory" to describe events or details that have been completely forgotten, especially due to trauma or a deliberate attempt to suppress them. For example, "The details of the accident were largely "erased from memory" as a coping mechanism".

What can I say instead of "erased from memory"?

You can use alternatives like "forgotten completely", "vanished from my mind", or "slipped my mind" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "forgotten" and "erased from memory"?

"Forgotten" is a general term for not remembering something. "Erased from memory" implies a more forceful or complete removal, often due to traumatic events or a conscious effort to suppress the memory.

Is "erased from my memory" grammatically correct?

Yes, "erased from my memory" is grammatically correct. It's a variation of "erased from memory", specifying that the memory has been removed from the speaker's own recollection.