form an impression

USAGE SUMMARY

"form an impression" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe when someone has learnt something about another and made a judgement, or opinion, about them. For example: After hearing what he had to say, I was able to form an impression of his character.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

You form an impression of the place.

The New York Times

Take some time to form an impression of each person.

University of California, Berkeley

Before you form an impression of Lucy, she's not one of those pampered pooches.

The Washington Post

"All of these aspects of an interaction either implicitly or explicitly form an impression".

The New Yorker

They will form an impression extraordinarily fast and, in most cases, stick with it to the general election of 2020.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's often said that employers form an impression within the first 10 seconds of meeting a candidate!

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Even before Al Gore and George W. Bush opened their mouths, Kevin Wiland formed an impression of them.

The New York Times

I formed an impression of her as the grande dame of medical poetry).

The New Yorker

Whatever you might be doing as a parent in the home with media, your kids may be forming an impression.

The Washington Post

Meridian Resources, a job placement company based in Charlotte, N.C., says most interviewers will start forming an impression about a job candidate just five seconds into a meeting.

The New York Times

He said while he "may have formed an impression" about possible areas of a Savile investigation, including his charity work, he was unaware of child-sexual-abuse accusations.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing how quickly someone "form an impression", specify the timeframe (e.g. "within seconds", "after a few minutes") to add clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that the first impression is the only impression. Remind your readers that people can update their views as they get to know each other better. So, the initial feeling is just a starting point, not the definitive judgement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "form an impression" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of creating an initial mental image or opinion. As shown by Ludwig, it is used to describe the process of developing an understanding of someone or something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "form an impression" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the initial stages of judgment and understanding. As validated by Ludwig, it sees consistent use across diverse sources such as News & Media, Academia, and Science. Ludwig's examples illustrate that this phrase applies to forming opinions of people, places, and even abstract concepts. Consider specifying a timeframe for how fast "form an impression" happen and remember that those initial feelings are a starting point, not the definitive judgement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shape an opinion

Highlights the active and formative nature of creating a viewpoint.

develop a perception

Focuses on the development of a broader understanding, not just an initial judgment.

establish an image of

Focuses on creating a mental picture or representation.

get a sense of

Implies a more intuitive and less definitive understanding.

acquire a view

Stresses the obtaining of a specific perspective or viewpoint.

draw a conclusion about

Highlights the logical aspect of forming an opinion based on evidence.

reach a determination

Implies a formal or official decision-making process.

arrive at a judgment

Emphasizes the finality and decisiveness of the evaluation.

build an understanding of

Suggests a gradual process of learning and comprehension.

gain insight into

Emphasizes a deeper, more profound understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "form an impression" in a sentence?

You can use "form an impression" to describe the process of developing an initial opinion or understanding about someone or something. For example, "It's vital we get it right, as that's when people first "form an impression" of what mental health services are."

What's a more formal way to say "form an impression"?

In a more formal setting, you might use phrases like "develop a perception" or "establish an image of", which suggest a more deliberate and considered assessment.

Is it correct to say "forming an impression"?

Yes, "forming an impression" is the present participle form and is grammatically correct. For example, "Whatever you might be doing as a parent in the home with media, your kids may be "forming an impression"."

What influences how people "form an impression"?

Many factors can influence how people "form an impression", including body language, communication style, appearance, and prior experiences. As Ludwig AI points out, first impressions often solidify very quickly.