fineness

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'fineness' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a noun that means the state or quality of being fine or delicate. You can use 'fineness' in situations where you want to describe something as being of high quality, precision, or intricacy. For example: - The fineness of the lace on the wedding dress was breathtaking. - The chef's attention to detail was evident in the fineness of the spices used in the dish. - The jeweler proudly displayed the fineness of the diamond in the ring. - The calligrapher's work was praised for its fineness and elegance. - The fineness of the artist's brushstrokes brought the painting to life.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Causal Differences: The first main argument for fineness is that fine differences can mark causal differences.

SEP

If fire explains heat, that is because it is always hot; but gold cannot explain fineness, because gold is not always fine; it is foul in cookware.

SEP

There are a few factors that affect the ultimate value of satellite images, including the resolution (the fineness of the detail evident in the photographs), and how recently or how often the images can be acquired that is, the degree to which the satellite's view is a real-time picture of what is happening on the ground.

The Economist

An important part of the test was to see whether the power company's coal-grinding machinery could also grind cocoa-bean shells to the required talcum-like powdery fineness; the machinery performed admirably.State officials, who had previously approved the utility's conversion of another boiler to burn wood, watched the testing procedure closely.

The Economist

The difference is not in the number, but in the fineness of the hair that grows from those follicles.

The Economist

Fine ash can travel farther than the heavier stuff, but still does a lot of harm to engines if encountered in significant quantities.The fineness of the ash in this case is unusual, says Thorvaldur Thordarson, an Icelandic volcanologist.

The Economist

The Tibetan antelope, hunted almost to extinction for the fineness of its fur, remained his favourite cause, and he went to the icy plateau to burn sequestered skins himself though, to his sorrow, he could not stop the disbanding of the heroic anti-poaching brigade and the transfer of patrols to corruptible local officials.

The Economist

Despite grief, ageing hands and eventually failing eyesight, she invented a new method for creating her flower "mosaicks": collaging layers of cut, painted paper onto a dense black background, matching her materials to the papery fineness of a flower's petal.

The Economist

The degree of fineness is important.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Sieves of varying degrees of fineness are used to separate hiramefun suitable for thin, medium, thick, or dappled (usumaki, chūmaki, koimaki, or madaramaki) gold or silver finishes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Halftones may be etched to depths of 0.0023 to 0.009 inch, depending on the fineness of the screen.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fineness" to describe the degree of detail or quality in a specific context, such as "the fineness of the detail" or "the fineness of the weave". This emphasizes precision and high quality.

Common error

Avoid using "fineness" when a simpler term like "quality" or "detail" would suffice. Overusing "fineness" can make your writing sound overly formal or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The noun "fineness" functions primarily to describe the quality or state of being fine. It denotes the degree of refinement, precision, or purity within a specific context. Ludwig provides various examples illustrating this usage across different domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

25%

News & Media

25%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fineness" is a versatile noun used to describe the quality or degree of being fine, with applications ranging from the purity of metals to the detail in artwork. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is grammatically sound and appropriate for use. The examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its prevalence across diverse fields such as news, encyclopedias, and scientific literature. When aiming for precision and emphasizing high quality, "fineness" serves as a valuable descriptor. However, remember to consider your audience and context, as simpler terms may be more suitable for informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delicacy

Focuses on the subtle and fragile aspects of something, similar to fineness but with an emphasis on fragility.

precision

Highlights the accuracy and exactness, rather than the general quality of being fine.

subtlety

Emphasizes the understated and nuanced nature, related to fineness in terms of detail but with a focus on indirectness.

refinement

Implies a process of improvement to achieve fineness, differing in that it suggests a prior state of less quality.

purity

Relates to the absence of impurities, especially in materials like gold, connecting to one specific meaning of fineness.

exquisiteness

Highlights an extreme level of beauty and skill, going beyond simple fineness to suggest artistry.

elegance

Stresses the graceful and stylish aspect, distinct from fineness in its focus on aesthetic appeal.

polish

Suggests a smooth and refined quality, more about surface appearance than intrinsic detail.

sophistication

Indicates complexity and advanced development, which can be related to fineness in certain contexts.

exactitude

Highlights accuracy and precision, focusing more on the correctness of something than its overall quality of being fine.

FAQs

How is "fineness" used in technical contexts?

In technical contexts, "fineness" often refers to the precision or purity of materials, such as the "purity" of gold or the "particle size" in industrial processes. It indicates a high degree of refinement or accuracy.

What are some synonyms for "fineness" that I can use in my writing?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms like "delicacy", "precision", "subtlety", or "refinement" to express similar ideas to "fineness".

Is "fineness" appropriate for informal writing?

While "fineness" is grammatically correct, it may sound too formal in informal writing. Simpler terms like "quality" or "detail" might be more appropriate in such contexts.

How does the "fineness" of a material affect its properties?

The "fineness" of a material, such as a powder or a weave, can significantly affect its properties. For example, a finer powder may dissolve more easily, and a finer weave may be stronger or more pliable.