outlines from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outlines from" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to the source or origin of outlines, but it lacks clarity and proper usage. Example: "The outlines from the previous meeting were not included in the report."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Making outlines from scratch.

The New York Times - Health

The $24 million expansion will open next year; for now you can see the stunning spare outlines from Telfair Square.

The New York Times - Travel

Alternatively, mark the areas by scratching out a design with a cane or making outlines from sand where you want each variety to grow.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In an interview on ABC's This Week, on 11 January, Obama indicated that his approach to the Middle East might revive policy outlines from the Clinton administration.

The Guardian - Opinion

In "Ranchos Church No. 1" (1929), you can see O'Keeffe teasing the line between abstraction and representation, but softening the outlines from her Precisionist canvases.

The New York Times

Translated, that means they have a view about the way the world works that differs in some important details but not in broad outlines from the view held by a mainstream economist like me -- or, for that matter, Larry Summers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

He sounded breathless, and told me that the "people" in Boston wanted an outline from me.

The New Yorker

Butler had derived his outline from Cervantes's Don Quixote, and his burlesque method (making everything "low" and undignified) from Paul Scarron.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It's a likable, two-inch-deep legal potboiler that's sufficiently in the John Grisham vein to have borrowed its oedipal plot outline from Grisham's The Chamber.

The Guardian - Film

Summarised like that, Lucky Jim is not so very different in its outline from Joseph Andrews or Tom Jones, written by Henry Fielding some 200 years earlier.

The Guardian - Books

Henry M. Paulson Jr., the former Treasury secretary, changed his plans for the banks several times, and the first outline from his successor, Timothy F. Geithner, was perceived as vague and unhelpful.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the source of an outline, use "outlines of" or "outlines derived from" for grammatical accuracy. For example, instead of saying "outlines from the building", say "outlines of the building".

Common error

Avoid using "outlines from" when you mean to indicate the subject an outline depicts. "Outlines of" is grammatically correct and clearly conveys that the outline represents the subject that follows.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outlines from" functions as a prepositional phrase, but Ludwig AI indicates it is not grammatically correct. While examples exist, the intended meaning (often related to origin or derivation) is better conveyed using alternative prepositions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "outlines from" is frequently encountered but grammatically questionable. As Ludwig AI points out, it's often used incorrectly to indicate what the outlines represent. While it appears in contexts such as science, news and media, and wiki sources, the grammatically sound alternative "outlines of" is generally preferred to denote the subject depicted by the outlines. To ensure clarity and grammatical correctness, avoid using "outlines from" and instead opt for more precise alternatives or rephrase the sentence entirely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outlines of

Replaces the preposition "from" with "of" to indicate possession or description, making the phrase grammatically correct.

contours from

Replaces "outlines" with a more technical term, "contours", often used in mapping or modeling.

shapes from

Focuses on the geometric aspect, replacing "outlines" with "shapes" while keeping the preposition "from".

forms from

Changing 'outlines' to 'forms' focuses more on the external appearance or shape of something.

silhouettes from

Similar to "shapes from", but emphasizes the dark outline against a light background.

drawings from

Replaces "outlines" with "drawings", shifting the focus to the act of creating the outlines.

diagrams from

Replacing 'outlines' with 'diagrams' shifts the emphasis to representing information visually.

sketches from

Similar to "drawings from", but implies a more preliminary or rough version.

plans from

Using 'plans' instead of 'outlines' suggests detailed arrangements or methods for achieving something.

structures from

Using 'structures' instead of 'outlines' conveys a sense of established form or framework.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "outlines" with a preposition?

The correct preposition to use with "outlines" to indicate the subject being outlined is "of". For example, "outlines of a building" is correct, while "outlines from a building" is incorrect.

What is a grammatically sound alternative to "outlines from"?

A grammatically sound alternative is "outlines of", which indicates that the outlines are depicting or representing something.

Is it ever appropriate to use the phrase "outlines from"?

While the phrase "outlines from" is generally grammatically incorrect, it might be acceptable in very specific contexts where "from" indicates a source or origin in a non-standard way. However, it's best to rephrase for clarity and grammatical correctness.

How does "outlines of" differ in meaning from "outlines from"?

"Outlines of" indicates that the outlines represent or depict something (e.g., "outlines of a map"). "Outlines from" is grammatically incorrect and lacks a clear, standard meaning.