sculpt out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sculpt out" is not standard in written English and may not be widely recognized.
It could be used in contexts where one is describing the act of shaping or forming something, but it is better to use more established phrases. Example: "The artist began to sculpt out the details of the statue from the block of marble."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Or use beetroots or turnips to sculpt out the souls of the dead, just as the Irish did before emigrants discovered pumpkins on arriving in the US.

The Guardian

With the pages of your letter, interjections, rhyme schemes and word associations -- you have a lot of clay to begin to sculpt out lyrics.

Huffington Post

I recorded a VJ set to "/SYS" with a circuit bent mixer as a background layer and then used that to sculpt out the video's structure in After Effects and Premiere.

Vice

Regardless of its label, art is a questioning practice that continually probes social norms, asks why things are a particular way, and uses imagination to sculpt out a provocative scenario.

Vice

The software allows the user to "sculpt out" the desired volume from the 3D structure, and, by adjusting the brightness and opacity values, to remove 'unwanted' voxels before calculating the final root canal volume.

BMC Oral Health

As a girl, in Florida, she loved to sculpt out of mud.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

First you dig the entrance to the tunnel, then comes the challenge of sculpting out sleeping chambers.

The Guardian - Travel

Reaching and positively resonating with a demographic is more than just painting a picture, it is sculpting out a personality.

HuffPost

To get an idea of what kinds of things Garner and Destiny might sculpt, check out this slideshow of amazing butter sculptures from the past several years.

Huffington Post

The piano, in tatters, would be sculpted out of fibreglass, plastic, and wood.

The New Yorker

Striped bass look as if they are sculpted out of aluminum and carbon fiber.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sculpt out", ensure the context clearly indicates the removal of material to create a specific form or shape. Consider whether a more common alternative like "carve out" or "shape" might be more appropriate for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "sculpt out" metaphorically when describing abstract concepts or processes that don't involve physical shaping or removal of material. Use alternative phrasing like "develop", "create", or "formulate" for abstract contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sculpt out" functions primarily as a verb phrase, describing an action of creating or shaping something by removing material. This is evident in examples where it's used to describe physical processes, like sculpting figures from beetroot or carving sleeping chambers. Though Ludwig AI indicates the phrase may not be widely recognized, its use in reputable sources suggests it's an acceptable, albeit less common, expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sculpt out" describes the act of creating or shaping something by removing material. Ludwig AI suggests the phrase is not standard in written English and better alternatives may exist, however, the analysis reveals it's an acceptable, albeit less common, expression, particularly in News & Media and Science contexts. When using "sculpt out", it's important to ensure the context emphasizes the subtractive process of creation. Consider using more common alternatives like "carve out" or "shape" for clarity. The phrase functions as a verb phrase and its communicative purpose is to convey how something is made by removing portions of it. The phrase is mostly used in neutral writing registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

carve out

Similar action of removing material to create a shape or form, but focuses more on the process of cutting.

mold

Implies shaping something, often from a malleable substance, into a desired form.

fashion

Suggests creating something with a specific design or style.

shape

A general term for giving something a particular form or outline.

form

Similar to shape, but can also imply bringing something into existence.

whittle

Implies gradually shaping something by cutting away small pieces.

chisel

Specifically refers to shaping something with a chisel, a tool for cutting stone or wood.

craft

Implies creating something skillfully and carefully.

model

Creating a scaled or representative version of something.

cast

Involves pouring a liquid substance into a mold to create a solid form.

FAQs

What does "sculpt out" mean?

"Sculpt out" means to create something by carefully removing material from a larger piece, shaping it into a desired form or design. It's similar to carving.

When is it appropriate to use "sculpt out" in writing?

Use "sculpt out" when describing a process that involves physically shaping a material by removing portions of it. In other cases, use synonyms like "carve out" or "shape" may be more suitable.

What are some alternatives to "sculpt out"?

Alternatives include "carve out", "shape", "mold", or "fashion" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "sculpt out" the same as "sculpt"?

While related, "sculpt" generally refers to the art of creating a three-dimensional form, whereas "sculpt out" specifically emphasizes the process of removing material to achieve that form. "Sculpt" is more general, while "sculpt out" implies a subtractive process.