out of recognition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "out of recognition" is not commonly used in written English and may not convey a clear meaning.
It could be used in contexts discussing the lack of acknowledgment or awareness of something, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "He acted out of recognition of the sacrifices made by his predecessors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

The town is changing out of recognition".

The Guardian - Tech

Will Borough have been gentrified out of recognition?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They did so out of recognition of its fundamental unfairness.

The Guardian - Opinion

Clem understood that justice grows out of recognition of ourselves in each other.

The Guardian

Why not art-direct a poor critic's column out of recognition?

The New York Times

Restaurants, telephone services and air travel have all improved out of recognition.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

But Wilny Estrella, 17, who has been in the United States for two years and, like most of the students in the class, failed her Regents in June, stood up at the end of class to offer a shout-out of recognition to the teachers.

The New York Times

Forty minutes after scanning, face and word recognition was tested separately in an out-of-scanner recognition task.

Brain

Its main challenges, as I see them, include earning out-of-state recognition and addressing pricing issues.

The New York Times

" 'Not an ounce!' " Ms. Meredith let out a squeal of recognition.

The New York Times - Style

In "Don Giovanni," Waldoff points out, the moment of recognition is withheld: the Don remains "unflinching, unreflecting".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "out of recognition" to emphasize a dramatic change that makes something or someone unrecognizable. For instance, describe a city's transformation after a major event: "The town was changed out of recognition after the earthquake."

Common error

Avoid using "out of recognition" when referring to minor or subtle changes. This phrase implies a significant transformation, so using it for slight alterations can sound exaggerated or unnatural. Instead, use less emphatic terms like "slightly modified" or "somewhat different".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of recognition" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, adjective, or noun, indicating the extent or degree of change to the point where something is no longer identifiable. It emphasizes the unrecognizability resulting from a transformation. This is shown by Ludwig, where, for example, can be found "The town is changing out of recognition" or "They did so out of recognition of its fundamental unfairness."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Arts

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Opinion

10%

Lifestyle

5%

Books

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "out of recognition" is used to describe a state where something has changed so drastically that it is no longer recognizable. As Ludwig AI shows, it appears in various contexts, including news, arts, and science, indicating a neutral register suitable for diverse audiences. While "out of recognition" is grammatically sound and semantically clear, it's not a very common phrase; therefore, writers should ensure it fits the context and consider alternatives like "beyond recognition" or unrecognizable for greater clarity. Use the phrase to signify a really important change and avoid exaggeration. The international definition of antisemitism has been endorsed by 31 nations now, not out of fealty to Israel, but "out of recognition" that antisemitism rots society from within, and that Jews are sadly, as ever, on the front line.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beyond recognition

Implies a more extreme state of unrecognizability than the original phrase.

unrecognizable

A single-word adjective describing the state of not being able to be recognized.

completely changed

Focuses on the transformation rather than the inability to recognize.

utterly transformed

Emphasizes the extent and completeness of the transformation.

drastically altered

Highlights the severity and impact of the changes.

changed beyond belief

Expresses surprise or disbelief at the extent of the change.

unidentifiable

Indicates an inability to determine the identity of something or someone.

mashed beyond recognition

This alternative is used in the context of destruction or damaging beyond any reconstruction.

modified beyond recognition

Implies changes made by modifying something to the point of being unrecognisable.

severely modified

Less emphatic than "modified beyond recognition", but still conveys a significant level of change.

FAQs

How can I use "out of recognition" in a sentence?

Use "out of recognition" to describe something so changed that it is no longer identifiable. For example, "The building had been altered "out of recognition" after the renovation."

What are some alternatives to "out of recognition"?

Alternatives include "beyond recognition", unrecognizable, or completely changed. The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of change you want to convey.

Is it better to say "changed out of recognition" or "changed beyond recognition"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "beyond recognition" is slightly more common and might sound more natural to some readers. The difference is subtle and often a matter of personal preference.

What does it mean when something is described as "mangled out of recognition"?

"Mangled out of recognition" implies that something has been damaged or distorted to the point where it is no longer recognizable. It suggests a forceful and destructive transformation.