give three waves of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "give three waves of" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a context where someone is asking for a specific number of gestures or signals, but it is not a common expression. Example: "During the ceremony, the host will give three waves of his hand to signal the start of the event."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The polarographic reduction of 2,4,6-trinitro diphenylamine was found to give three waves of nearly equal height in all pH regions in buffered solutions and also in unbuffered methanol water mixtures.

Electrochimica Acta

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"There have been three waves of SaaS.

HuffPost

The roots of this equation give four complex wave velocities which can propagate in such materials.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

There were three waves of the Klan.

Vice

Three waves of outbreaks occurred during the past 2 years.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

These are combined to give a sixth-order wave equation, the solution of which gives three pairs of wavenumber as a function of frequency.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

This same survey methodology was then repeated a further four times at six month intervals, giving a total of five waves of data.

BMC Health Services Research

Especially language skills and language support are given special attention within the first two waves of this cohort.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

I gave one of my cousins a short-wave radio tuned to the World Service, which he kept pinned to his ear while moving through the fields trying to get reception.

Independent

Given that the apoptotic process may last for hours, these two waves of apoptosis might be distinguished in a wide time frame.

BioMed Research International

Five waves of LiLACs NZ have been completed with a sixth Wave in progress.

BMC Palliative Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "give three waves of", ensure the context clearly indicates that you are referring to a series of waving gestures or signals, rather than implying something is being given away or distributed in three installments.

Common error

Avoid using "give three waves of" in contexts where the receiver might misunderstand it as providing something physical or abstract in three stages. Use more explicit language to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "give three waves of" functions as a verbal phrase describing an action involving a series of waving gestures. It specifies the act of producing three distinct wave-like motions for signaling or expression, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "give three waves of" is a phrase used to describe the action of performing three distinct waving motions, often for signaling. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is not very common but is understandable, especially in contexts needing a specific number of waving gestures. Although it is grammatically acceptable, other phrases like "provide three waving gestures" or "make three waving signals" might be clearer in some situations. Ensure clarity in your writing to avoid misinterpretations, especially when the intended meaning involves a specific, sequential action. Sources are generally from science and news media, lending a degree of neutrality to its register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provide three waving gestures

Substitutes 'give' with 'provide' and 'waves' with 'gestures'.

offer three instances of waving

Rephrases using 'offer' instead of 'give' and clarifies the action.

make three waving signals

Highlights the action of making a signal through waves.

perform three waving actions

Highlights the performance of waving as an action.

demonstrate three wave gestures

Focuses on demonstrating or showing through waving.

signal thrice with a wave

Focuses on the act of signaling with three wave motions.

present three instances of a wave

Uses 'present' to indicate showing or giving waves.

extend three waving motions

Emphasizes the physical action of waving three times.

enact three wave gestures

Highlights the enactment or performance of the wave.

execute three waves

Formal and concise substitution.

FAQs

How can I use "give three waves of" in a sentence?

You can use "give three waves of" to describe a signaling action. For example, "During the ceremony, the host will give three waves of his hand to signal the start of the event."

What are some alternatives to "give three waves of"?

Consider using phrases like "provide three waving gestures", "offer three instances of waving", or "make three waving signals" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "give three waves of" grammatically correct?

While not the most common phrasing, "give three waves of" is grammatically understandable, particularly in contexts describing a series of wave-like motions or signals.

When is it appropriate to use "give three waves of"?

Use "give three waves of" when you specifically want to emphasize the act of signaling or gesturing with three distinct wave motions. Otherwise, more common expressions might be clearer.