linguistic fact

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "linguistic fact" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a specific aspect or characteristic of language that is verifiable or universally accepted within the field of linguistics. Example: "One linguistic fact is that all human languages have a system of grammar that governs their structure."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But there is no apriori reason to suppose that anything at all follows about the physiology of horses from such a linguistic fact.

SEP

Perhaps it is a mistake, however, to move from this linguistic fact to a substantive ontological thesis: mental and physical predicates designate properties belonging to distinct families of properties.

SEP

Using language we can describe our mathematical activities, but these activities themselves do not depend on linguistic elements, and nothing that is true about mathematical constructional activities owes its truth to some linguistic fact.

SEP

This dictum is based on the linguistic fact that the "that -clauses "that -clauses o is" and "that (object) o is F", respectively, candfrequenthatbe replaced by the nobject (gerund) phrases "the being of o" and "the beisg F of o", respectively (1910, §11, 61–2 [50–1]; 1915, §5, 27; Morscanr & Simons 2001, 443–4).

SEP

Since word retrieval was assessed by tasks such as confrontation naming of pictures and, therefore, tapping lexical processes instead of linguistic fact retrieval, it was quite different from arithmetic fact retrieval (including simple addition, subtraction, and multiplication).

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The good news is that through the internet more linguistic facts are available to amateurs than ever before.

The Economist

A radically different theory, according to which the Indo-European spread began in Asia Minor about 7000 bce, is difficult to square with the linguistic facts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It seems odd that not one of the numerous Latin grammarians should have referred to well-known linguistic facts, but the absence of evidence does not justify the assertion that there was no real diversification during the imperial era.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They treat all facts as linguistic facts.

SEP

The Hallidayan conception of register required a fairly precise understanding of both situational and linguistic facts.

Functional Linguistics

While VP does not concern itself with historical or linguistic facts as such, this does not mean that it is not concerned with individuality.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "linguistic fact", ensure that the fact is verifiable and supported by linguistic evidence or research.

Common error

Avoid presenting linguistic theories or hypotheses as established "linguistic fact". Always differentiate between empirical observations and interpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "linguistic fact" functions as a noun phrase, referring to a verifiable piece of information about language. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "linguistic fact" is a grammatically correct and usable noun phrase that refers to a verifiable piece of information about language. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is suitable for formal and academic contexts, as it is often found in science, encyclopedias, and news & media. When employing this term, ensure that what you're presenting is genuinely supported by linguistic evidence rather than being merely a theory. Alternatives such as "language feature" or "fact about language" may offer suitable substitutions depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fact about language

This rephrases the query with a different word order while maintaining the same meaning.

language reality

This term emphasizes that something is really true about language.

linguistic feature

This emphasizes a characteristic or attribute of a language.

language data

This alternative emphasizes the raw information gathered from language.

language characteristic

This stresses an attribute that distinctly identifies a language or its usage.

language phenomenon

This alternative highlights an observable and noteworthy aspect of language.

linguistic data point

This emphasizes that linguistic facts are units of information for analysis.

linguistic observation

This highlights the act of noticing and documenting a language-related detail.

linguistic detail

This option suggests focusing on a specific, often small, aspect of language.

language element

Focuses on a basic component or part of a language system.

FAQs

How can I use "linguistic fact" in a sentence?

You can use "linguistic fact" to refer to a verifiable aspect of language. For example, "A key "linguistic fact" is that languages are constantly evolving".

What's a good alternative to "linguistic fact"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "language feature" or "fact about language".

Is "linguistic fact" a formal term?

"Linguistic fact" is suitable for academic and formal writing when discussing specific, verifiable aspects of language.

What distinguishes a "linguistic fact" from a linguistic opinion?

A "linguistic fact" is based on empirical evidence and linguistic analysis, while a linguistic opinion is a subjective view or interpretation that isn't necessarily supported by evidence.