lovely sight

USAGE SUMMARY

'lovely sight' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something pleasant to look at. For example, "The sun setting behind the mountains was a lovely sight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

A more promising line of argument for Wang is his appropriation of an example from the Great Learning (Commentary 6), which suggests that loving the good is "like loving a lovely sight," while hating evil is "like hating a hateful odor" (Tiwald and Van Norden 2014, 191).

SEP

As Zhu Xi explains, "…those who desire to cultivate themselves, when they know to do good in order to avoid the bad, must then genuinely make an effort and forbid self deception, making their hatred of the [ethically] hateful be like their hating a hateful odor, and their loving what is good like their loving a lovely sight" (Tiwald and Van Norden 2014, 192).

SEP

It is like hating a hateful odor, or loving a lovely sight.

SEP

The Chinese phrase rendered "loving a lovely sight" (hào hǎo sè) has connotations of finding someone sexually attractive.[7] To regard someone as sexually attractive (a kind of cognition) is to be drawn toward them (a kind of motivation that can lead to action).

SEP

It's a lovely sight.

The New York Times

"I got a lovely sight at every fence," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Just beyond the front gate is a small garden, full of lovely sights and aromas, that provides some of what's on the menu.

The New York Times - Travel

However, in ancient Chinese thought, eyes, ears, and the other sensory organs are primarily associated with sensual desires (e.g., lovely sights, beautiful music, fine foods, etc).. Physical desires are never treated as intrinsically problematic.

SEP

But the loveliest sight occurs long before the grasses get under way.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Over the canal, probably the city's loveliest sight, for eyes and belly, is the 1901 wrought-iron and glass market, Les Halles.

The Guardian - Travel

— to enter a speakeasy, and the loveliest sight, in a movie generously laced with charm, is a strudel that makes and bakes itself in midair, at Queenie's command, to feed the hungry Jacob.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lovely sight" to describe scenes or views that evoke positive emotions and aesthetic pleasure, adding a touch of elegance to your writing.

Common error

While "lovely sight" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or technical writing where more precise or descriptive language might be preferred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lovely sight" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "lovely" acts as a descriptive adjective modifying the noun "sight". This construction is used to denote something visually pleasing or attractive, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lovely sight" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for describing something visually appealing. While not exceedingly common, it finds use across various contexts, especially in news and media. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, suggesting its suitability for general writing while advising caution in overly formal contexts. Consider synonyms like "delightful sight" or "magnificent sight" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delightful sight

Replaces "lovely" with "delightful", emphasizing the pleasure derived from seeing it.

pleasant sight

Replaces "lovely" with "pleasant", indicating the view is agreeable or pleasing.

lovely vision

Replaces "sight" with "vision", focusing on the mental image.

wonderful sight

Substitutes "lovely" with "wonderful", highlighting the scene is inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration.

magnificent sight

Substitutes "lovely" with "magnificent", highlighting the grandeur of the view.

terrific sight

Substitutes "lovely" with "terrific", indicating the view is exceptionally good.

adorable sight

Changes "lovely" to "adorable", suggesting the scene is endearing or charming.

handsome sight

Changes "lovely" to "handsome", suggesting the scene has good-looking or attractive qualities.

delicious sight

Changes "lovely" to "delicious", metaphorically implying the scene is appealing like food.

sweet sight

Replaces "lovely" with "sweet", metaphorically implying the scene is charming or kind.

FAQs

How can I use "lovely sight" in a sentence?

You can use "lovely sight" to describe something visually pleasing. For instance, "The sunset over the ocean was a "lovely sight"."

What are some alternatives to "lovely sight"?

Some alternatives include "delightful sight", "magnificent sight", or "pleasant sight", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "lovely sight" too informal for academic writing?

While generally acceptable, consider the context. For formal academic writing, a more precise term like "striking view" or "aesthetically pleasing scene" might be more appropriate.

What makes something a "lovely sight"?

A "lovely sight" typically refers to something visually appealing that evokes positive emotions. It could be a natural landscape, a piece of art, or any scene that is pleasing to the eye.