evoking

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "evoking" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb to mean "to call forth or up an emotion, memory, or response". For example: His words immediately evoked a feeling of sadness.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Man Booker prize may be one of the last shadows of that empire, evoking as it does an imagined community unchanged since 1921, when Irish independence began its demise.

The Guardian - Opinion

But while some on the coalition benches have been fond of evoking the spirit of William Wilberforce, the legislation fails to match their rhetoric.

The Guardian - Opinion

In recent weeks, the savage killings of North African soldiers and a Jewish father and schoolchildren in Toulouse by an Islamist fanatic of French nationality and Algerian background have thrown the country into trauma, evoking repressed memories of French colonial history and antisemitism.

The Guardian

The US, Philippines and even Gambia have offered assistance or possible resettlement of Rohingya, evoking the coordinated response to the exodus of hundreds of thousands of boat people from Vietnam in the late 1970s.

The Guardian

"Was it for this?" asked the Irish Times plaintively, evoking the poetry of WB Yeats from 1913 to grieve over the surrender of Irish sovereignty to a bunch of IMF and ECB accountants.

The Guardian - Business

As visitors walked over the wooden floor, they heard him murmuring sexual fantasies about them while masturbating, thereby evoking the paranoia of the Nixon era.

The Guardian - Arts

Warming up with name-checks for Astroturf, Captain Morgan's rum and a restaurant called Mama's Jerk Station, the new Live Lounge host got fully into her stride when evoking the joys of the Notting Hill Carnival, where "I'll wear my neon Nike Mayflys and brightly coloured shorts from American Apparel".

The Guardian

By evoking and interpreting Hemingway's smaller moments, the author has found an ingenious way of showing how this unhappy and vulnerable man was generally nicer outside his family than in it.

The Economist

But she succeeds in evoking a sense of history about a place usually thought of in the present tense.As Miss Didion moves from childhood into adulthood, her personal narrative becomes intertwined with the history of her native state and her quest to understand it.

The Economist

During the boom of the 1990s and 2000s it became fashionable to talk of India's demographic dividend – evoking the experiences of East Asia.

The Economist

And those who study "The Seven Sacraments" triptych restored, and some might say over-cleaned, for this exhibition will get an idea of his gift for portraying and evoking emotion.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "evoking" to create a specific mood or atmosphere in your writing. Choose details that resonate with the desired emotions or memories you want to elicit.

Common error

Avoid using "evoking" in vague contexts without providing concrete details or imagery. Instead of saying 'The music was evocative', specify what the music evoked, such as 'The music was evocative of a peaceful summer evening'.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "evoking" is that of a present participle, functioning as a verb in continuous tenses or as a gerund/noun. This is used to describe an action of bringing forth memories, feelings, or images. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is correct to use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "evoking" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe the act of bringing forth feelings, memories, or images, as noted by Ludwig AI. Its neutral tone and common usage across various contexts, including news, formal business, and scientific writing, make it a valuable tool for writers. To use "evoking" effectively, provide specific details and imagery to create a strong emotional or sensory experience for your audience. Related phrases such as "calling forth" and "conjuring up" can provide alternative ways to express similar ideas. By specifying what exactly the music is "evoking", instead of vaguely using "evoking", it can help avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

calling forth

Focuses on the act of summoning or bringing something into existence, often an intangible element like a memory or feeling. This is more direct than "evoking".

bringing to mind

Emphasizes the act of causing something to be remembered or considered. It's more straightforward and less nuanced than "evoking".

conjuring up

Implies a magical or imaginative creation of something in the mind. It's more whimsical and less formal than "evoking".

eliciting

Focuses on drawing out a response or reaction from someone. It's more specific and direct than "evoking", often implying a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

summoning

Suggests a formal or deliberate act of calling something forth, sometimes from a distant place or time. It carries a stronger sense of intentionality than "evoking".

reminiscent of

Indicates a similarity or connection to something else, prompting memories or associations. It's more passive and descriptive than "evoking".

awakening

Emphasizes the act of bringing something to consciousness or awareness. It can imply a sense of discovery or realization that "evoking" doesn't always convey.

stirring up

Highlights the act of provoking or arousing something, often an emotion or controversy. This suggests a more active and potentially disruptive process than "evoking".

kindling

Suggests the initial sparking or igniting of a feeling or idea, often with a sense of warmth or inspiration. This is more focused on the beginning of something than "evoking".

suggesting

Implies a subtle or indirect indication of something. It is less forceful than "evoking".

FAQs

How can I use "evoking" in a sentence?

"Evoking" is used to describe the act of bringing a feeling, memory, or image to mind. For example, "The painting was "evoking memories" of her childhood".

What's the difference between "evoking" and "suggesting"?

"Evoking" implies a strong emotional or sensory response, while "suggesting" is more subtle and indirect. "Evoking" creates a vivid impression, whereas "suggesting" hints at something without explicitly stating it.

What can I say instead of "evoking"?

You can use alternatives like "calling forth", "conjuring up", or "bringing to mind" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "evoking" formal or informal?

"Evoking" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding language and the specific situation than on the word itself.