scattered off

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression "scattered off" is not an idiom that is commonly used in written English.
If you are looking for an alternative, you could use the phrase "scattered away," as in "The old leaves scattered away in the wind."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Gamma rays scattered off particles in the air a phenomenon known as "skyshine"—could contribute to the raised radiation levels around the plant.

The Economist

The big peak is something like a "jet" of particles, what we expect when a quark or gluon in the proton undergoes a collision and is scattered off at an angle.

The Guardian

It works this out by looking at how GPS signals are scattered off the water.

BBC

Hence, the communication signal scattered off the target would be a much more important component in target detection than the scattered radar signal.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The main challenge is that radiation scattered off water gives rise to a disturbing signal (optical noise) that degrades more and more the quality of 3D images for increasing turbidity.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

It is derived based on the interference of electron waves that follow different paths, one that is scattered off an impurity and another that is scattered by the potential oscillations (Friedel oscillation) created by all remaining electrons.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

In addition to poisoning the discourse with obvious fakery and lies with only scattered off-air glances behind the crazy curtain, he's able to convince millions of his listeners and viewers every day to activate against their own best interests, while arming them with embarrassingly misleading and outright false information.

Huffington Post

He couldn't concentrate at school; his mind, he said, kept scattering off in different directions.

The New York Times

Those that do interact tend to do so only once; the likelihood of a single neutrino scattering off one atom and then another in short order is infinitesimal.

The Economist

In essence, x-rays, with wavelengths much smaller than interatomic spacings, are able to scatter off the atoms in the crystal.

The Guardian

It can simulate the reflections of light scattering off objects in a video game as well as the physical interactions of the moving objects themselves.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing scientific phenomena involving particle or wave interactions, using "scattered off" can provide a clear and concise way to explain how energy or matter changes direction upon impact.

Common error

While acceptable in scientific or technical writing, avoid using "scattered off" in informal contexts where simpler alternatives like "deflected by" or "spread across" may sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scattered off" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb to describe how something is dispersed or deflected upon contact with a surface. As Ludwig demonstrates, it commonly appears in scientific and technical contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "scattered off" serves as a prepositional phrase that describes dispersion or deflection upon surface contact. Ludwig indicates its acceptability, although less common than alternatives in certain contexts. Primarily used in scientific and news domains, its formality ranges from neutral to formal based on the application. While Ludwig AI considers the expression not as an idiom, the provided examples show it's often used in technical contexts. Be mindful to consider "deflected by", "reflected by", or "spread across" as alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deflected from

Emphasizes the change in direction caused by an object or surface.

dispersed by

Focuses on the act of spreading something out due to interaction with something.

reflected by

Highlights the bouncing back of energy or particles from a surface.

diffused through

Implies a gradual spreading throughout a medium or area.

radiated from

Suggests emission from a central source.

bounced from

Emphasizes a quick, rebounding motion.

diverted by

Focuses on a change in path or direction caused by something.

redirected by

Similar to 'diverted by', but emphasizes a purposeful change in direction.

spread across

Indicates a distribution over a surface.

distributed over

Suggests a more even or systematic allocation across an area.

FAQs

How can I use "scattered off" in a sentence?

The phrase "scattered off" describes the dispersion of something, like light or particles, after hitting a surface. For example, "The light was scattered off the rough surface."

What's a more common way to say "scattered off"?

Alternatives include "deflected by", "reflected by", or simply "spread across", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "scattered off"?

Yes, "scattered off" is grammatically acceptable, particularly in scientific and technical contexts. However, simpler alternatives might be preferred in more casual writing.

What is the difference between "scattered off" and "reflected off"?

"Scattered off" implies a more diffuse dispersion, while "reflected off" suggests a more uniform bouncing back from a surface. The choice depends on whether the dispersion is widespread or directional.