evocative of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "evocative of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that evokes an emotion, memory, or response from someone else. For example: The smell of fresh-baked cookies was evocative of childhood memories.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is evocative of all things green.

The New York Times

They, too, are evocative of "Mad Men".

The New York Times

The works are evocative of the landscape of southeast China.

Encyclopedia Britannica

These enhance a comical mood faintly evocative of early Mirós.

The New York Times - Arts

They're evocative of past responsibilities, over who's to blame.

The New York Times

Redolent means smelling (of) or, by extension, evocative (of).

The New York Times

The patterns, although geometric, are evocative of stems and vines.

The New York Times - Arts

The songs themselves are also evocative of a bygone era.

Independent

It was an event less evocative of Hollywood than Halloween.

The New York Times

The banjo is evocative of something in the past, and these lyrics are evocative of something new".

The New York Times - Arts

Fall's collections have never been so evocative of sartorial memories.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "evocative of" when you want to highlight the power of something to bring forth specific memories, emotions, or associations. It adds depth and richness to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "evocative of" in simple descriptive sentences where a more direct adjective would suffice. For example, instead of saying "The painting was evocative of nature", consider simply saying "The painting was naturalistic" if the primary goal is just to describe its style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "evocative of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that something subtly suggests or brings to mind something else. Ludwig highlights the phrase's common usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "evocative of" is a grammatically sound and widely used prepositional phrase that effectively links subjects to related memories, emotions, or concepts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science. While versatile, it's important to use it judiciously to avoid wordiness in simple descriptions. Alternatives like "reminiscent of" or "suggestive of" can offer similar connotations. This phrase enhances writing by adding depth and sensory experience, making it a valuable tool for descriptive prose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reminiscent of

Focuses on recalling past experiences or things, highlighting memory and association.

suggestive of

Emphasizes the power to imply or hint at something indirectly, not just recall it.

redolent of

Often used in relation to scents or strong sensory experiences, carrying strong associations.

calling to mind

Directly indicates an action of causing something to be remembered or thought of.

bringing to mind

Very similar to "calling to mind" but with a slightly more active construction.

resonant with

Highlights the emotional or symbolic connection that something creates.

imbued with

Implies that something is filled with a quality, creating a strong association.

echoing

Suggests a weaker or fainter resemblance, more about similarity than direct recall.

bearing the hallmarks of

Highlights the distinctive characteristic or features associated with something.

indicative of

Implies that it serves as a sign or signal of something, providing information about it.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "evocative of" in a sentence?

Use "evocative of" to describe something that subtly brings to mind a particular memory, emotion, or association. For example, "The melody was "reminiscent of" a childhood lullaby", creating a feeling of nostalgia.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "evocative of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "reminiscent of", "suggestive of", or "redolent of" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "evocative to" instead of "evocative of"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "evocative" is "of". "Evocative to" is grammatically incorrect. Always use "evocative of" to maintain proper grammar.

What is the difference between "evocative of" and "indicative of"?

"Evocative of" implies that something brings a memory, feeling, or image to mind, while "indicative of" suggests that something serves as a sign or symptom of something else. They are not interchangeable.