fears play

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fears play" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express how fears influence or affect a situation, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "In the decision-making process, fears play a significant role in shaping our choices."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But the two expressions have different intensions because the word 'heart' does not have the same extension, let alone the same meaning, as the word 'kidney.' On the other hand, intention and intending are specific states of mind that, unlike beliefs, judgments, hopes, desires or fears, play a distinctive role in the etiology of actions (see section 11).

SEP

If they have certain fears, play those fears, like arachnophobia (fear of spiders) or claustrophobia (fear of tight spaces).

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

All of these fears played out in the during the implementation of the Prevent agenda, which left widespread disillusionment in its wake.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hodgson is setting up his team with the aim of victory tonight, as he fears playing for a draw could be disastrous.

BBC

It becomes a function of playing to fears, playing to usually white vulnerabilities, and finding wedge issues for politicians".

Huffington Post

Bibi's bid to shore up support from the far right may smack of desperation, but his focus on security fears plays well with many voters.

Vice

"How do we hide from fear, play with thrills and terrors?" press materials ask.

The New York Times - Arts

Greed and fear play a part too.The measures announced by Russia's government will have little practical effect, but the European and American sanctions are more meaningful.

The Economist

It seems like guilt and fear play a big role in manga. .

Vice

Catastrophization ("tendency to focus and magnify pain sensation, and to feel helpless in the face of pain") and fear play a role in the etiology and prognosis of chronic pain conditions [ 185- 188].

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

But fear plays a big part.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the influence of fear, use stronger verbs like "influence", "affect", or "dominate" for clarity and impact instead of the phrase "fears play".

Common error

Avoid using "play" in contexts where it diminishes the significance of the noun. Instead of "fears play", use more direct verbs like "influence" or "shape" to emphasize the impact of fear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fears play" attempts to describe the role or influence of fears. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it lacks clarity and is generally considered grammatically weak. Stronger verbs are recommended for conveying the intended meaning.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fears play" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and lacks clarity. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's more effective to use stronger verbs like "influence" or "affect" to convey the intended meaning. While some sources use this phrase, it's recommended to opt for more precise and impactful language to ensure clarity in your writing. Alternatives such as "fears influence" or "fears affect" are more suitable for academic, professional, and general contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fears influence

Replaces 'play' with 'influence' to emphasize the effect of fears.

fears affect

Uses 'affect' instead of 'play' to highlight the impact of fears.

fears have a role

Substitutes 'play' with 'have a role' to specify the function of fears.

fears are a factor

Replaces 'play' with 'are a factor' to indicate fears as a contributing element.

fears contribute

Uses 'contribute' instead of 'play' to show fears adding to a situation.

fears are instrumental

Substitutes 'play' with 'are instrumental' to emphasize the importance of fears.

fears hold sway

Replaces 'play' with 'hold sway' to suggest fears have a controlling influence.

fears are significant

Uses 'are significant' instead of 'play' to highlight the importance of fears.

fears have an impact

Substitutes 'play' with 'have an impact' to show the effect of fears.

fears figure prominently

Replaces 'play' with 'figure prominently' to indicate fears are a key element.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to saying "fears play"?

Instead of "fears play", you can use phrases like "fears influence", "fears affect", or "fears have a role" to more accurately describe the impact of fears.

Is "fears play" grammatically correct?

The phrase "fears play" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and can sound awkward. It's better to use stronger verbs like "influence" or "affect".

How can I use "fears influence" in a sentence?

You can use "fears influence" in sentences like: "In politics, fears influence voters' decisions" or "Fears influence our perception of risk".

What is a more formal way to say "fears play a part"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "fears are instrumental" or "fears are significant" to highlight the importance of fears in a given situation.