sense of folly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sense of folly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an awareness or recognition of foolishness or absurdity in a situation or behavior. Example: "Despite his sense of folly, he continued to pursue the risky venture, convinced it would pay off in the end."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I would also have an acute sense of folly that I had endangered my life for nothing — amphetamines in the large doses I took would give me a sustained pulse rate close to two hundred and a blood pressure of I-know-not-what; several people I knew had died from overdoses of amphetamines.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Instead, the specifics of the images add up to a larger truth, conveying a diffuse sense of human folly and cost that is sad beyond words.

The New York Times - Arts

A day to analyze hypotheses in an attempt to make sense of the folly that has befallen us, the way it has in Sousse, Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut or Tel Aviv.

Huffington Post

It's both a comedy and a piece of Hollywood hipster social criticism — much livelier than Sofia Coppola's "Somewhere" — driven by a tart sense of the follies of self-love and a vivid loathing of American mediocrity.

The New Yorker

But QPR's nouveau-riche swagger really was underpinned by a sense of "typical Rangers" folly – thanks to third-party involvement in the deal that brought Alejandro Faurlin to west London, we couldn't even enjoy winning the league properly as the threat of a points deduction hung over the club until the last day of the season.

Vice

If their advance to center stage brought hoots of pleasure from theatergoers with a sense of the past, "Follies" was stopped in its tracks and a completely different show allowed to take over.

The New York Times

Philosophy in the usual sense, according to The Praise of Folly, involves arrogant claims to full understanding of the works of nature, useless speculation, constructing theoretical pictures of the universe that are mere wild conjectures, and sometimes even claims to foretell the future from the stars.

SEP

The horrible weirdness of North Korea makes the place easier to parody than to make sense of, and it is folly to make too much sense of it.

The New Yorker

Although even his dog senses the folly of the journey, the man stubbornly continues to believe in his own infallibility.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There's a feeling of paralysis throughout this "Follies," a sense of artists at the crossroads still waiting to decide how they're going to conquer this grand and daunting show.

The New York Times

That, and the sense of wit to recognize our essential folly, is plenty.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sense of folly" to convey an acute awareness of the ridiculous or absurd nature of a situation, particularly when commenting on human behavior or decision-making.

Common error

Avoid using "sense of folly" when merely pointing out a mistake. "Folly" implies a deeper level of foolishness, often with significant consequences or a touch of irony. Using "sense of error" or "awareness of mistake" might be more appropriate for simple oversights.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sense of folly" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It describes a particular awareness or recognition. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in describing the awareness of human foolishness in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sense of folly" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to denote an awareness or recognition of foolishness or absurdity. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's important to distinguish "folly" from simple error; "folly" implies a deeper, often ironic, foolishness. Found primarily in news and media, the phrase conveys a critical perspective on human actions. Alternative phrasing includes "awareness of absurdity" and "recognition of foolishness". Using the phrase correctly involves understanding its nuanced implications and applying it in contexts where foolishness is a central theme.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recognition of foolishness

Highlights the act of acknowledging foolish behavior or situations.

awareness of absurdity

Emphasizes the recognition of something illogical or unreasonable, rather than inherent foolishness.

consciousness of absurdity

Highlights awareness of something that is not logical.

perception of absurdity

Highlights how the absurdity is perceived.

understanding of imprudence

Focuses on the comprehension of unwise or careless actions.

insight into foolishness

Suggests a deeper understanding of why something is foolish.

realization of irrationality

Underlines the acknowledgement of actions or thoughts that lack reason.

appreciation of the ridiculous

Shifts the focus to finding humor or amusement in folly.

grasp of senselessness

Focuses on understanding the lack of meaning or purpose.

discernment of silliness

Highlights the ability to distinguish silly or trivial behavior.

FAQs

How can I use "sense of folly" in a sentence?

You can use "sense of folly" to describe the awareness of foolishness in a situation. For example, "He had an acute "sense of folly" when he realized the extent of his misjudgment".

What's the difference between "sense of folly" and "foolishness"?

"Foolishness" is the state of being foolish, while ""sense of folly"" is the awareness or recognition of that foolishness, often in oneself or others.

What can I say instead of "sense of folly"?

You can use alternatives like "awareness of absurdity", "recognition of foolishness", or "understanding of imprudence" depending on the specific context.

Is "sense of folly" formal or informal?

The phrase ""sense of folly"" leans towards a neutral to slightly formal register, suitable for news articles, academic papers, and thoughtful commentary.