in a touch

USAGE SUMMARY

"in a touch" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe a quick or brief contact or communication with someone. For example: - I will be in a touch with my boss later today to discuss the project. - The team stays in a touch via weekly video calls. - He's been out of touch for months, but we finally got in a touch with him last week. Another possible use of "in a touch" is to describe a small or subtle influence on something. For example: - The artwork has a hint of Picasso's style in a touch. - Her performance was impactful because she incorporated elements of jazz in a touch. - The recipe has a slight Asian influence in a touch, giving it a unique flavor.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Toss in a touch of "Goodfellas".

The New York Times - Books

It even throws in a touch of sci-fi fantasy.

The Guardian - Film

Revelation, in a touch of irony, was written to be not too revealing.

Harvard University

In "A Touch of Sin," it's professional, the man is a professional criminal.

The New York Times

In a touch of irony, that may instead precipitate Richter's departure from New York.

The New York Times - Sports

In a touch of chatty colloquialism, one poem is even entitled "Sunday in the Empty Nest".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Kinnear, who is playing Iago in the new production of Othello that opens this month, is unshaven, lived-in, a touch dishevelled.

The Guardian

And that is before you dollar-in a Touch or Type cover.

TechCrunch

Many of our kids spend most of the day in a touch-free zone.

The New Yorker

Mr. Alpert found his salvation in a touch-screen universal remote control.

The New York Times - Tech

He keeps a loaded pistol beside his bed, in a touch-pad safe.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in a touch" to subtly suggest that an element is not overpowering, but adds a certain character to the subject. For example, you could say "The dish has Italian origins, but includes Indian spices in a touch".

Common error

Avoid using "in a touch" when you mean someone is physically touching something. A more suitable option for that case is "with a touch". For example, instead of saying "He opened the safe in a touch", say "He opened the safe with a touch".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in a touch" typically functions as an adverbial modifier, adding detail to a verb or adjective by indicating a subtle presence or influence. Ludwig AI confirms its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

24%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

6%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in a touch" serves as a versatile adverbial modifier, subtly indicating a slight addition or influence. According to Ludwig AI, it’s grammatically correct and frequently used, especially in news and media contexts. While generally neutral in register, leaning informal, it adds nuance to writing by suggesting something is present without being overpowering. When aiming for precision, remember that this phrase refers to subtle inclusions rather than physical contact, for which "with a touch" is more appropriate. The most frequent source is The New York Times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with a hint of

Emphasizes a subtle presence of a particular quality or element.

with a tinge of

Indicates a slight coloring or influence, often emotional.

with a shade of

Similar to "tinge", but can also refer to a slight variation.

slightly

A general term for a small degree of something.

somewhat

Indicates a moderate degree, less subtle than "slightly".

a bit

An informal way to indicate a small amount or degree.

just a little

Emphasizes the small quantity or degree.

in passing

Refers to a brief or casual mention or interaction.

momentarily

Indicates something lasting for only a short time.

fleetingly

Suggests something that disappears quickly or is not sustained.

FAQs

How can I use "in a touch" in a sentence?

You can use "in a touch" to describe something that has a small amount of something else. For example, "The movie had action but there was romance "in a touch" as well".

What's a more formal way to say "in a touch"?

Depending on the context, you might use phrases like "slightly", "somewhat", or "with a hint of" as more formal alternatives to ""in a touch"".

Is it correct to use "in a touch" to describe physical contact?

While ""in a touch"" generally refers to a small addition or influence, physical contact is usually described using "with a touch" or similar phrases.

What's the difference between "in a touch" and "with a touch"?

"In a touch" implies a subtle inclusion or influence, while "with a touch" describes a manner of doing something or a physical action.