herald

USAGE SUMMARY

"herald" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a noun, verb, and adjective that refers to a person or thing that announces or symbolizes the approach of something important. For example: The coming spring season was heralded by a burst of song from the returning birds.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In 2013 Fairfax Media entrusted a digitising business called Rogers Photo Archive in Little Rock, Arkansas, with millions of newspaper photographic prints and negatives dating back as far as the 19th century – from the Sydney Morning Herald, the Sun-Herald, the Australian Financial Review, the Age in Melbourne and 72 New Zealand newspapers.

The Guardian

Email: [email protected] / Twitter: @WarrenNMurray Graham Russell Guardian UK/US site editor in the Asia-Pacific timezone As production editor at Pagemasters, Graham looked after copy subbing for the Sydney Morning Herald, the Sun-Herald and the Canberra Times.

The Guardian

Email: [email protected] / Twitter: @fred_dash Nikki Marshall production editor Nikki Marshall has been a production journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun-Herald.

The Guardian

In Shia Islam, the hidden imam is predicted to reappear in Mecca and herald a new dawn of justice after the world has been torn asunder by violence and oppression.

The Guardian

With a new chairman, a new chief executive, a new director of cricket and a vacancy for head coach the hope must have been that round of press would herald a new beginning.

The Guardian - Sport

"To everyone who, like me, wants this election to herald the real and positive change that will make life better for ordinary people across these islands, I hold out a hand of friendship," she said as she launched the SNP's election manifesto.

The Guardian

AC Colour magazines were ideally suited to the picture-led extravaganzas that traditionally herald the passing of a year: image-heavy and text-light round-ups of the world's most important events.

The Guardian

The latest data from the World Health Organisation shows a drop in the number of new cases in Sierra Leone, including Freetown, which may herald a flattening of the epidemic in the country as happened in Liberia – though it is also possible that the numbers will shoot up again as they did after dropping in Guinea.

The Guardian

Related: Eric Pickles to receive a knighthood The architect of city deals and an advocate of giving more power to local councils, Clark's ideas were the precursor to the government's northern powerhouse strategy and could herald the beginning of a new relationship between social landlords and the government.

The Guardian

His departure did not herald a bold new start.

The Guardian - Sport

Rudd launched his prime ministership in 2007 in a climate of political euphoria: his first act, a moving public apology on behalf of the nation to its indigenous peoples, seemed to herald a new era of social reform and environmental action after close to 12 years of conservative rule.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "herald", consider the context to determine whether a more specific verb like "announce", "signal", or "foreshadow" might be more appropriate for the tone and nuance you want to convey. Ensure the subject logically performs the action of announcing or signaling.

Common error

Avoid using "herald" to directly describe a cause; it signifies an announcement or indication, not the cause itself. For example, instead of saying "The storm heralded the flood", say "The storm "caused" the flood" or "The storm "heralded" the threat of a flood".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "herald" is as a transitive verb, used to indicate the act of announcing or signaling something important. It can also function as a noun, referring to a messenger or a sign of things to come, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "herald" functions primarily as a transitive verb and a noun, used to announce or signal the arrival of something significant. Ludwig's examples show its common use in News & Media, but it also appears in Formal & Business and Science contexts. While generally grammatically correct, as Ludwig AI confirms, be careful not to misuse it as a direct cause. Instead, use it to signify announcement or indication. Consider alternatives like "announce", "signal", or "foreshadow" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be a harbinger of

Highlights the role of being a sign or indication of something to come.

be a precursor to

Highlights its role as something that comes before and indicates the approach of something else.

signal the arrival

Focuses on the act of signaling an arrival, rather than a formal announcement.

announce the coming

Directly states the act of announcing a future event.

proclaim

Implies a formal and public announcement.

foretell

Emphasizes the predictive aspect of "herald", suggesting future events.

portend

Implies that something is a sign of a future event, often negative.

foreshadow

Indicates a hint or warning of a future event.

prefigure

Suggests something anticipates or represents a future thing.

presage

Similar to portend, suggesting an omen or sign of something to come.

FAQs

How do I use "herald" in a sentence?

Use "herald" to indicate that something announces or signals the arrival of something else. For example, "Daffodils "herald" the Spring".

What can I say instead of "herald"?

You can use alternatives like "announce", "signal", or "foreshadow" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "herald a change" or "herald of change"?

"Herald a change" is generally used when "herald" is a verb, meaning to announce or signal a change. "Herald of change" is used when "herald" is a noun, referring to something that announces or signals change.

What's the difference between "herald" and "portend"?

"Herald" typically means to announce or signal something, while "portend" implies a sign or warning of something, often negative, that is about to happen.