nostalgia

USAGE SUMMARY

"nostalgia" is a valid and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a sentimental longing for the past, as in: "As I reminisced about our childhood, I felt a wave of nostalgia come over me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Business

Travel

Music

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's an honest book about race, identity and the constant longing and nostalgia one feels for this metaphorical place called home.

The Guardian - Books

Banished beat charity dance show, The People's Strictly for Comic Relief, which had 3.1 million viewers (14.6%) at the same time on BBC1, and ITV's nostalgia fest The Nation's Favourite '70s Number One, which had 3.1 million viewers (13.6%) between 8.30pm and 10pm.

The Guardian

"Against a pessimistic backdrop, this report shows the global public's tendency towards nostalgia, allied to a strong sense that traditions are important, and a desire for a slower pace of life and simplification," said Ben Page, Ipsos Mori's chief executive.

The Guardian

His book has a chapter on what he calls "periphery nostalgia", the belief in Israel that better relations could return either by the authorities in Tehran changing or being removed.

The Guardian

Although Pearce says: "Much as I admire Bill Elliot and anything that makes people aware of the strike, at the end of the day I'm not satisfied with nostalgia.

The Guardian

On Wednesday McDonald's super-sized on nostalgia with the relaunch of the Hamburglar.

The Guardian - Business

As we approach the 30th anniversary of the miners' strike, there's almost a feeling of nostalgia in the air.

The Guardian - Film

"It would have been cheaper to start building from scratch," says Roland Henkel, general manager of the Machrihanish Dunes project, "but we have talked to a lot of people in the community and found there was such affection and nostalgia for these old buildings that we wanted to keep a valuable aspect of the area's history".

The Guardian - Travel

Dai believes the film will go down well in the valleys and that people will view it with nostalgia "because those events did happen and they were part of them".

The Guardian - Film

In Australia, a Labor government could not invoke nostalgia in quite the same way (not least because the 50s were seen to belong to Menzies and the Liberal party, as John Howard later showed).

The Guardian - Opinion

In October, just in time for the Christmas rush, the brothers from Belfast are releasing a book through Ebury Publishing, which along with recipes such as Coco Pops brownies and sausage-stuffed shredded wheat, is said to feature "nostalgia, party facts, games and humour".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nostalgia" to evoke a sense of longing for a specific period or aspect of the past in your writing. Be mindful of the emotional tone you wish to convey, as "nostalgia" often carries a bittersweet connotation.

Common error

Avoid presenting an unrealistically positive view of the past when using "nostalgia". Acknowledge the complexities and challenges of the period to maintain credibility and avoid alienating readers.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "nostalgia" is as a noun. It names a feeling or sentiment, specifically a longing or sentimental yearning for the past, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Film

15%

Music

10%

Less common in

Business

10%

Travel

10%

Lifestyle

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nostalgia" functions primarily as a noun that describes a sentimental longing for the past. As Ludwig highlights, the word is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While the word has a neutral register, its use serves to evoke emotions and make connections with the audiences. To enhance your writing, avoid over-romanticizing the past when using "nostalgia" and be mindful of the tone you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

longing for the past

Emphasizes the desire for a previous time.

yearning for yesteryear

Highlights a strong desire for a past era.

reminiscing about old times

Focuses on the act of recalling past events.

wistful reflection

Implies a thoughtful and somewhat melancholic contemplation of the past.

homesickness

Specifically relates to missing home or familiar surroundings.

fond remembrance

Highlights affection and positive feelings towards the past.

remembering bygone days

Directly refers to recalling days that have passed.

sentimentality

Focuses on the emotional aspect of looking back.

retro affection

Captures fondness for trends and styles of the past.

past remembrance

Emphasizes the act of recalling previous experiences.

FAQs

How can I use "nostalgia" in a sentence?

You can use "nostalgia" to describe a feeling of longing for the past. For example, "The old photographs filled her with nostalgia" or "There's a wave of nostalgia for the 1980s".

What's the difference between "nostalgia" and "homesickness"?

"Nostalgia" is a general longing for the past, while "homesickness" specifically refers to missing home or familiar surroundings. You can feel nostalgia for a time you never experienced, but homesickness is tied to personal experience of a place.

What are some other words I can use instead of "nostalgia"?

Depending on the context, you could use words like "longing for the past", "yearning for yesteryear", or "reminiscing about old times".

Is it correct to say "a feeling of nostalgia"?

Yes, it is perfectly correct to say "a feeling of nostalgia". "Nostalgia" itself is a noun that describes a feeling, so using the phrase emphasizes the emotional experience.