rays of sunlight on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rays of sunlight on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the effect or presence of sunlight illuminating a particular object or scene. Example: "The rays of sunlight on the water created a beautiful shimmering effect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Beachside Avalon was a two year treat for me after years of harbour side living and I relished the sound of the waves, the whales and the dolphins and the first rays of sunlight on the ocean each morning.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But those looking for a ray of sunlight on Celera's horizon may have to look no further than Celera Diagnostics, a joint venture between Celera and its sister company, Applied Biosystems.

Forbes

The skies above the castle on the cliff had gone from shooting warming rays of sunlight to pelting me with bursting hail and stinging rain and back again.

The Washington Post

A lot of people will die". It turned out later that what had been mistaken by the satellites as missiles were in fact rays of sunlight reflected on the clouds.

HuffPost

The last rays of sunlight are glowing on the upper deck.

The New York Times - Sports

In addition, two large public spaces at ground level would commemorate the victims; the park areas would be located to catch rays of sunlight each year on the morning of Sept. 11, from the time of the first attack to the collapse of the north tower.

The New York Times

The Saudi signal provides a ray of sunlight for those hoping for a strong deal to tackle global warming.

The Guardian

The Stone is aligned with an aperture in the roof of the Sanctuary so that a ray of sunlight falls on the word on the Stone of Remembrance at exactly 11 a.m. on 11 November, marking the hour and day of the Armistice which ended World War I. Since the introduction of daylight saving in Victoria, the ray of sunlight is no longer in the right place at 11 a.m.

Wikipedia

When I woke up, bright rays of sunlight were streaming through the Venetian blinds on the windows.

The New Yorker

Calculating the path of rays of light, so-called ray tracing, is used to determine local light intensities inside the photobioreactor based on the focused rays of sunlight.

Chemical Engineering Journal

A word of admiration from an elder writer, Ike Zimmerman (played with a gruff, showy wisdom by Jonathan Pryce), is one of two rays of sunlight.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rays of sunlight on" when you want to emphasize the effect of sunlight specifically as beams or streams illuminating a surface, creating a visual impact.

Common error

Avoid using "rays of sunlight on" in strictly scientific writing where a more precise term like "solar irradiance" or "incident radiation" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rays of sunlight on" functions primarily as a noun phrase acting as an object of a preposition. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in describing the impact of sunlight.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rays of sunlight on" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe the effect of sunlight illuminating a surface. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, its occurrence is relatively rare. Related phrases like "sunlight streaming onto" and "sunbeams shining on" offer viable alternatives depending on the desired emphasis. The phrase suits descriptive contexts and is considered neutral in formality, though scientific contexts may benefit from more precise terminology.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sunlight streaming onto

Emphasizes the continuous flow of sunlight directed towards something.

sunlight reflecting off of

Highlights the reflective property of a surface interacting with sunlight.

sun's rays upon

Uses a more formal tone and emphasizes the sun as the source.

sunbeams shining on

Focuses on the individual beams of sunlight illuminating a surface.

solar rays hitting

Scientifically descriptive highlighting impact of solar radiation.

sunlight illuminating

Describes the action of sunlight making something visible.

sun's glow on

Focuses on the soft, radiant light of the sun affecting something.

solar light reaching

Highlights the arrival of light originating from the sun.

sunshine falling on

Emphasizes the gentle manner in which sunlight is distributed.

daylight upon

A simple statement of presence of sunlight on something.

FAQs

How can I use "rays of sunlight on" in a sentence?

You can use "rays of sunlight on" to describe how sunlight interacts with a specific surface or object. For example: "The rays of sunlight on the water created a shimmering effect."

What are some alternatives to "rays of sunlight on"?

Some alternatives include "sunlight streaming onto", "sunlight reflecting off of", or "sunbeams shining on", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "rays of sunlight on" versus other similar phrases?

"Rays of sunlight on" is best used when emphasizing the visual aspect of beams or streams of sunlight impacting a surface. More general terms like "sunlight on" might be suitable when the specific form of light is less important.

Is "rays of sunlight on" formal or informal?

The phrase "rays of sunlight on" is generally considered neutral in formality. It can be used in various contexts, from descriptive writing to scientific observations, though more technical terminology might be preferred in strictly formal scientific contexts.