juxtaposition

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "juxtaposition" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side, often for the purpose of comparison or contrast. For example, you might say, “The juxtaposition of the old and new architecture in this city creates a unique and interesting atmosphere.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nearby juxtaposition of the line "In God we trust", though, is the source of many American conundrums.

The Guardian

We lose the juxtaposition of poor against rich and settle in a no man's land of figures, studies and linguistic relief that frees us from facing a rather ugly reality: poverty exists in Britain.

The Guardian - Opinion

The juxtaposition of styles of portraiture with such extreme pathological symptoms creates a bizarre sensation: it's rather like chancing upon a film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice that features a graphic anal sex scene between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy.

The Guardian - Arts

(It's also there in the juxtaposition, in the quote given above, of "quick" and "death" – "quick" being, of course, another word for "alive").

The Guardian - Books

There is the juxtaposition of the incredibly poor with the incredibly rich in cities," she says.

The Guardian

This summer proved how much a side can benefit from the glaring weaknesses of its opponent, but a more instructive juxtaposition is placing recent Australian success alongside the winless travels to India and England that preceded it.

The Guardian - Sport

This ideological juxtaposition, in which subjective morality is controlled by the state and in which citizens' objective needs are left for the market to sort out, is by now familiar to most voters.

The Guardian

The inevitable juxtaposition comes with the banking industry, which continues to behave with the belief that it operates outside social and ethical norms.

The Guardian - Business

Mr Brégier's comments coincide with calls from the International Monetary Fund and politicians in some eurozone countries – France in particular – for the bank to consider a programme of quantitative easing to tackle low inflation, sluggish economic growth and the strong euro.The juxtaposition is more than an occasion to chuckle at French hypocrisy.

The Economist

First, its members stopped a bill that would have increased the penalties for wife-battering; then they took the time to approve one protecting gamecocks, by making cock-fighting a felony.This unfortunate juxtaposition has infuriated feminists (and many other people too).

The Economist

But their juxtaposition provides even the hardened student with some new perspectives, and there are useful if brief looks at more recondite questions such as Israel's relations with the Gulf states.And as an insight into the mind of an historian, this is a valuable collection.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "juxtaposition" when you want to emphasize a comparison or contrast created by placing two or more things side by side. It's particularly effective when the contrast is unexpected or insightful.

Common error

Avoid using "juxtaposition" simply to describe things being near each other. The term implies a deliberate placement to highlight a contrast or comparison, not just spatial proximity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "juxtaposition" is as a noun, referring to the act of placing two things side by side for comparison or contrast. As Ludwig AI states, the word is correct and can be used in written English. This is reflected in the provided examples, where it serves as the subject or object of a sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "juxtaposition" functions as a noun that highlights a deliberate placement of elements for comparison or contrast. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically correct and appropriate in a wide range of contexts, particularly in news, academic and professional discourse. When writing, make sure the pairing or arrangement is intended for comparison rather than simple nearness, and consider that the effect can create emphasis and complexity.

Remember to choose a "side-by-side comparison" technique to compare your ideas to have a great impact in your writting!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apposition

Highlights a grammatical relationship where two elements are placed side by side to define or identify each other.

side-by-side comparison

Focuses specifically on comparing elements placed next to each other.

contrastive arrangement

Emphasizes the contrasting nature of the elements being placed together.

placing in proximity

Emphasizes bringing two elements into a state of nearness.

adjacent placement

Highlights the physical proximity of the items.

close association

Suggests a relationship formed by nearness.

contiguity

Focuses on the state of being in direct contact or sharing a border.

collocation

Emphasizes the habitual co-occurrence of words or phrases.

nearness

Highlights the state of being close in space or relationship.

drawing a parallel

Emphasizes a comparison between two different elements or ideas.

FAQs

How is "juxtaposition" used in art analysis?

In art, "juxtaposition" refers to placing contrasting elements together to create visual interest, convey meaning, or evoke emotion. This can involve color, form, texture, or subject matter, and it's used to deepen the viewer's understanding of the artwork's message.

What effect does "juxtaposition" have in literature?

In literature, "juxtaposition" is a literary technique where an author places two characters, settings, images, ideas, or situations close together to highlight contrast or create a specific effect. This technique can create irony, suspense, or develop a deeper theme. An example of a literary technique is "side-by-side comparison".

When is it appropriate to use "juxtaposition" in writing?

Use "juxtaposition" when you want to draw attention to the differences or similarities between two or more things. It's effective for creating emphasis, adding complexity, or revealing deeper meaning in your writing. Using a "contrastive arrangement" of ideas will impact your writing.

What are some synonyms for "juxtaposition"?

Synonyms for "juxtaposition" include "apposition", "contrast", "comparison", and " близост". Depending on the context, you might also use "alignment" or "correlation".