fictitious setting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fictitious setting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an imaginary or invented environment in literature, film, or other forms of storytelling. Example: "The novel takes place in a fictitious setting that blends elements of fantasy and reality, creating a unique world for the characters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Now the brothers can be found on weekday mornings in Animal Junction, the fictitious setting for their television show, a place where, on any given day, a young moose or a bighorn sheep or a fox might wander by.

The New York Times

Oh well, life was like that in Stepford, the fictitious setting for the sendup of suburban life and the gender wars in which the men of a storybook village found a way to turn all their spouses into beautiful, compliant house-bound robots.

The New York Times

In addition to parsing each book and its meaning, Mr. Martin must trace the family stories that figure in the fiction, so that childhood years spent with Mr. García Márquez's maternal grandparents can be seen as seminal to the fictitious setting (Macondo) and family (Buendía) found in "One Hundred Years of Solitude".

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Programming largely revolves around manipulating data, but I'm not referring to the incomprehensible (and totally fictitious) set of ones and zeros running across any movie computer screen (very few programmers work directly with binary).

Huffington Post

Dispatches showed a number of Coronation Street stars, including Brooke Vincent, who plays Sophie Webster, being covertly filmed receiving fake beauty products from a fictitious firm set up by filmmakers.

The Guardian

Instead he's spent the last 18 months in fear of being extradited on charges of exporting batteries from the US, from what turned out to be a fictitious company set up by the US authorities for entrapment purposes.

The Guardian - Opinion

As Kenneth Lapatin, a curator of antiquities at the Getty, notes in an essay in a forthcoming anthology about Pompeii, Getty went further, writing an (entirely fictitious) novella set in antiquity in which the Herakles had been taken to Italy from Greece, passing through the hands of both Nero and Hadrian before it "followed the sun westward to the New World".

The New York Times - Arts

The latest row over cash for access blew up after the two former Foreign Secretaries were filmed boasting about the influence they could bring to bear in the service of a fictitious company set up by the Channel 4 programme Dispatches.

Independent

Prosecutors say an undercover investigation revealed that the alderman, Arenda Troutman, accepted a $5,000 cash bribe and agreed to accept $10,000 more, as well as a $5,000 political contribution, in exchange for using her office to support zoning changes on behalf of a private developer — a developer that was, in fact, a fictitious entity set up as part of the investigation.

The New York Times

The cut cells near the immersed boundary are identified using a fictitious level set function.

Chemical Engineering Science

The ex ante control chart is tested on a fictitious data set consisting of 900 project networks with different topological measure ({text{SP}}) (stands for serial/parallel indicator) generated by RanGen.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a story or narrative, use "fictitious setting" to clearly indicate that the environment is not real but created for the purpose of the story.

Common error

Avoid using "fictitious setting" when you are referring to a real-world location, even if the events within that location are fictionalized. Use precise language to avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fictitious setting" functions as a noun phrase that describes a location or environment which is not real but rather imagined or created for the purposes of a narrative, game, or other creative work. Ludwig identifies its usage primarily in describing stories and their backdrops.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33.33%

Science

33.33%

Wiki

33.33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fictitious setting" correctly describes an imaginary location, as confirmed by Ludwig. Although not very common, its usage is consistent across various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedic sources. It serves to specify that a location is not real but invented for a story or other creative purpose. While alternatives such as "imaginary locale" or "invented environment" exist, "fictitious setting" clearly conveys the intended meaning. Remember to use it accurately and to avoid confusing it with factual settings. Ludwig also helps prevent potential misinterpretations and strengthens the credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

imaginary locale

Replaces 'setting' with 'locale', implying a specific place.

invented environment

Uses 'invented' instead of 'fictitious', focusing on the creation aspect, and 'environment' instead of 'setting', making it more general.

made-up world

Emphasizes the artificiality and completeness of the setting.

imagined backdrop

Replaces 'setting' with 'backdrop', focusing on the background nature of the location.

fantasy setting

Specifies the genre, implying a setting with magical or unreal elements.

simulated environment

Implies a setting created for simulation or training purposes.

hypothetical location

Focuses on the speculative or theoretical nature of the place.

constructed reality

Highlights the artificial and deliberately created nature of the setting.

artificial world

Replaces both words to create a more general and descriptive phrase.

mythical place

Suggests a setting based on mythology or legends.

FAQs

How can I use "fictitious setting" in a sentence?

You can use "fictitious setting" to describe the location of a story, game, or other creative work. For example: "The novel takes place in a "fictitious setting" inspired by Victorian London."

What is the difference between "fictitious setting" and "imaginary world"?

"Fictitious setting" generally refers to a specific location, while "imaginary world" implies a more expansive and complete environment with its own rules and cultures. An "imaginary world" might contain several fictitious settings.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "fictitious setting"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "imaginary locale", "invented environment", or "made-up world".

Is it appropriate to use "fictitious setting" in academic writing?

Yes, it is appropriate, particularly when analyzing literature, film, or other forms of storytelling where the setting is not based on reality. Be sure to use it accurately and in a relevant context.