is reflected from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is reflected from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing how light, sound, or other phenomena bounce back from a surface. Example: "The image of the mountain is reflected from the calm surface of the lake."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An understanding of fundamentals of remote sensing, especially how light is reflected from various surfaces and what affects this reflection, is critical.

Science Magazine

The reflectivity data quantifies the amount of light that is reflected from a point in the scene back to the laser scanner.

IPSJ Transactions on Computer Vision and Applications

Reflectance is the fraction of incident light that is reflected from a surface, which will vary with wavelength depending on the optical properties of the surface.

Astrobiology

Typically, when light is reflected from different surfaces, any light that comes off the path of that reflection becomes polarized.

The New York Times - Science

How much sunlight is reflected from the Earth by the ice-caps ?

University of California, Berkeley

The caspase activation is reflected from the FRET loss and subsequent increase in blue channel fluorescence.

Nature

A ray is reflected from F1 to F2 only at the point of contact.

Britannica

It is explained that a first beam, usually from a laser, is reflected from an object onto a photographic plate.

The New York Times

The height of the air gap between the plates determines the color of light that is reflected from the IMOD.

MIT Technology Review

One beam is reflected from the object that is having its picture taken; the other is a "clean" reference beam.

The Economist

A beam of light is reflected from the mirror onto a photographic film moving at a constant speed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In creative writing, consider alternatives like "is mirrored by" or "bounces off of" to add stylistic variation while keeping your core message intact.

Common error

Avoid using "is reflected from" when you mean "is reflected in". "Reflected from" describes the surface the light bounces off of, while "reflected in" describes a medium where an image is seen, like a mirror or water.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is reflected from" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an object or phenomenon (like light or sound) is being bounced off a surface. This is evidenced by Ludwig, which confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is reflected from" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction used to describe a phenomenon bouncing off a surface, as Ludwig confirms. Predominantly found in scientific and technical contexts, it serves the purpose of objectively detailing physical processes. While versatile, it is important to distinguish its meaning from "is reflected in". Given its prevalence across diverse, authoritative sources, "is reflected from" stands as a valuable and clear phrase in formal English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reflects off of

This is an active voice version of the original phrase, indicating what is doing the reflecting.

is returned from

This alternative focuses on the return of a signal or wave from a surface.

is sent back from

Emphasizes the sending and subsequent returning of something from a surface.

bounces off of

This alternative uses more casual language, suggesting a less formal setting.

is bounced back from

Similar to 'bounces off of', but slightly more formal, highlighting the action of bouncing.

is mirrored by

This suggests a perfect reflection, like a mirror, emphasizing visual similarity.

is reverted from

Highlights the act of something going back to its original source, but is less common than 'reflected'.

is echoed from

This works well for sound or metaphorical reflections, suggesting a reverberation.

is deflected from

Focuses on the change in direction caused by hitting a surface, not necessarily a direct reflection.

is radiated from

Describes energy or light emitted from a source, not just reflected.

FAQs

How can I use "is reflected from" in a sentence?

The phrase "is reflected from" describes how light, sound, or other phenomena bounce off a surface. For example: "The sunlight is reflected from the snow."

What's a more casual way to say "is reflected from"?

You could use phrases like "bounces off of" or "is bounced back from" in less formal contexts. Note, however, they may slightly change the tone or meaning.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "is reflected from"?

The passive voice ("is reflected from") focuses on the object being reflected, while the active voice ("reflects off of") emphasizes the reflecting surface. Choose the one that best suits your sentence's focus. For example, "The light reflects off of the water" (active), versus, "The light is reflected from the water" (passive).

What's the difference between "is reflected from" and "is reflected in"?

"Is reflected from" indicates the surface something bounces off of, while "is reflected in" indicates a medium where the reflection is visible. You can say "Light is reflected from the mirror" but "The landscape is reflected in the lake".