no sign of

USAGE SUMMARY

"No sign of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
This phrase is used when something has been expected but nothing is seen or less than expected. For example: After searching for hours, there was still no sign of the missing cat.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(No sign of Trigger).

The New York Times - Arts

No sign of Ali.

The New York Times

No sign of it yet.

The Economist

No sign of a driver.

The New Yorker

There's no sign of it".

The New Yorker

There's no sign of Randy.

The New Yorker

No sign of the suspect.

The New York Times

No sign of any hogs.

The New Yorker

No sign of the dancers.

The New Yorker

There's no sign of that.

The New York Times

There's no sign of movement.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "no sign of" to clearly indicate the absence of something expected or looked for. It's effective in both descriptive and analytical writing.

Common error

Avoid using "no sign of" with abstract concepts where 'lack of' or 'absence of' would be more appropriate. For example, instead of "no sign of progress", consider "lack of progress".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "no sign of" functions as an indication of absence or lack of evidence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common and correct expression used to denote that something expected or searched for is not present. The examples show its versatility in describing various situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "no sign of" is a versatile and common expression used to indicate the absence of something expected or searched for. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and appropriate for various writing styles. The analysis reveals that "no sign of" primarily functions to inform about the absence of something, maintaining a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal contexts. While predominantly found in news and media, its clarity and directness make it an effective tool for descriptive and analytical writing. Alternative expressions include "no indication of" or "no evidence of", depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no indication of

Focuses more directly on the absence of any indication, hint, or suggestion.

no evidence of

Emphasizes the lack of tangible proof or support for something.

no trace of

Highlights the complete absence of any remaining mark or vestige.

nothing to suggest

Indirectly indicates a lack of clues or hints.

there's no hint of

Emphasizes a subtle absence of a sign.

absence of any

Directly states the lack of something without any indication of it being present.

no manifestation of

Highlights the absence of an outward sign or appearance of something.

not a glimmer of

Indicates a complete lack of even the slightest sign or hope.

no visibility of

Focuses on the absence of visual confirmation or presence.

not a shred of

Emphasizes that there is absolutely no sign, no matter how small.

FAQs

How can I use "no sign of" in a sentence?

You can use "no sign of" to indicate the absence of something expected. For example, "After searching all day, there was "no sign of" the missing keys".

What's a good alternative to "no sign of"?

Alternatives to "no sign of" include phrases like "no indication of", "no evidence of", or "no trace of", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "there is no sign of" or "there are no signs of"?

The choice depends on whether you're referring to a singular or plural subject. Use "there is "no sign of"" for singular nouns and "there are no signs of" for plural nouns.

What does "no sign of" imply?

"No sign of" implies that something expected or searched for is completely absent or has not been detected, suggesting a lack of any indication or evidence.