mere utterance

USAGE SUMMARY

"mere utterance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe words that are spoken but do not have any power or significant consequence. For example, "His opinion was expressed as a mere utterance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

No mere utterance, then or now, could do justice to the soaring heights of language Mr Lincoln reached that day.

The Guardian

Sorry to inform you, but your naked conclusory accusations do not prove themselves by their mere utterance.

The New York Times

The mere utterance of that phrase is enough to send a shiver down the spines of "hardcore" console players.

The Guardian - Tech

In an 1878 essay, Edison (or his ghostwriter) proclaimed portentously that his invention would "annihilate time and space, and bottle up for posterity the mere utterance of man".

The New Yorker

He is altogether less keen on the language as it is written, with its stern conventions and its distance from mere utterance.

The Guardian

In an 1878 essay, Edison (or his ghostwriter) proclaimed portentously that his invention would "annihilate time and space, and bottle up for posterity the mere utterance of man". Annihilation is, of course, an ambiguous figure of speech.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Intelligible reasons are those that members of the public can see as reasons for those who advance (or rely upon) them, as opposed to mere utterances, expressions of emotions, irrational demands or other irrelevant considerations.

SEP

And now people go crazy and tweet about the merest utterance from any justice.

Harvard University

Human children are very soon able to construct new, grammatically acceptable sentences from material they have already encountered; unlike the parrot in human society, they are not limited to mere repetition of utterances.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Most people have been trained — via a parade of gloomy op-eds in their newspapers — to think of their online utterances as mere "narcissism"; that there could be no conceivable value in tweeting or using Instagram or using Facebook, apart from a sort of constant shilling of the self.

The New Yorker

Do you realize that you lie so smoothly that you have no idea when your utterances became mere noise?

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mere utterance" to downplay the significance of spoken words when you want to emphasize their lack of impact or sincerity. For instance, "The promise was a mere utterance, devoid of any real commitment."

Common error

Avoid using "mere utterance" excessively in highly formal or academic writing where more precise language might be preferred. Instead, consider alternatives like 'unsubstantiated claim' or 'baseless assertion' for greater impact.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "mere utterance" is a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes an act of speaking that is considered insignificant or lacking substance. Ludwig examples illustrate how it's used to downplay the importance of what's being said.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mere utterance" serves as a noun phrase that diminishes the significance of spoken words. Ludwig's analysis reveals that it is grammatically correct and effectively employed to indicate a lack of substance or impact. While not exceedingly common, it appears across news, scientific, and academic contexts. As "empty statement" or "meaningless words" represent viable alternatives, the user should use this pattern to downplay the importance of someone's words. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of this phrase and its usage in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

empty words

Similar to 'meaningless words', this emphasizes the lack of sincerity or substance.

meaningless words

This highlights the absence of significance or impact in the words spoken.

trivial comment

This emphasizes that the comment is unimportant or frivolous.

empty statement

This alternative emphasizes the lack of substance or meaning in the statement.

hollow pronouncements

This emphasizes the lack of depth or sincerity in the statement.

idle talk

This suggests casual conversation that lacks seriousness or purpose.

flippant comment

This highlights a lack of respect or seriousness.

insignificant remark

This highlights the lack of importance or impact of the remark.

casual remark

Suggests a lack of seriousness or careful consideration.

vain expression

This suggests that the expression is futile or ineffective.

FAQs

How can I use "mere utterance" in a sentence?

Use "mere utterance" to indicate that something said is insignificant or lacks substance. For example, "His apology felt like a "mere utterance", without any genuine remorse."

What's the difference between "mere utterance" and "formal declaration"?

"Mere utterance" implies a casual or insignificant statement, whereas "formal declaration" suggests an official and binding pronouncement. The former lacks weight, while the latter carries authority.

What can I say instead of "mere utterance"?

You can use alternatives like "empty statement", "idle talk", or "meaningless words" depending on the context.

Is "mere utterance" a formal or informal expression?

"Mere utterance" leans towards a neutral to slightly formal register. It's suitable for news articles, essays, and general writing, but might be too understated for highly academic or legal contexts where more precise terms are necessary.