sense of hearing

USAGE SUMMARY

'sense of hearing' is both correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to refer to the ability of perceiving sound. For example, "She has an excellent sense of hearing; she can pick out individual voices in a crowded room."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Sense of Hearing.

Yale University

Dogs possess an acute sense of hearing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Wolves have an acute sense of hearing.

The Guardian

Cats also have an acute sense of hearing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And that very nicely restores the sense of hearing.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Whales and dolphins have long been known to possess an acute sense of hearing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Williams's ambitious first novel is narrated by a Nigerian-born Scotswoman with an extraordinarily acute but fading sense of hearing.

The New York Times - Books

Dr. Birkhead writes about it in connection with studies that show robins can find worms with their sense of hearing.

The New York Times - Science

In the fourth floor gallery, we looked at this painting by Philippe Mercier called The Sense of Hearing.

Yale University

It demonstrates that the proposed algorithm has perfect insensibility in the sense of hearing.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

In contrast, it appears that diurnal (daytime) feeding bats have a much poorer sense of hearing.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's enhanced auditory capabilities, use specific adjectives like "acute" or "heightened" before "sense of hearing".

Common error

Ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to the physical ability to hear or the act of listening attentively. For active listening, consider using the phrase "skill of listening" instead of "sense of hearing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sense of hearing" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It refers to the ability to perceive sound. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

24%

Encyclopedias

17%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

19%

Wiki

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sense of hearing" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the ability to perceive sound. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's widely used across various contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and academic sources. While alternatives like "auditory perception" exist, "sense of hearing" remains a clear and widely understood term. To enhance your writing, consider specifying the quality of hearing (e.g., "acute sense of hearing") and avoiding ambiguity by distinguishing it from active listening. Remember, Ludwig provides numerous examples to guide you in its effective use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

auditory perception

Focuses on the neurological process of perceiving sounds rather than the general ability.

auditory sense

Reorders the words, placing emphasis on "auditory".

aural perception

Uses "aural" instead of "auditory", referring to the ear or hearing.

faculty of hearing

Replaces "sense" with "faculty" implying an innate ability.

ability to hear

Simplifies the phrase to focus on the capacity to perceive sound.

capacity for hearing

Emphasizes the potential or inherent ability to perceive sound.

power of hearing

Emphasizes the strength or capability of auditory perception.

ear's ability

Refers specifically to the ear and its capability.

detecting sounds

Focuses on the action of recognizing sounds

way of hearing

Implies a particular method or quality of auditory perception.

FAQs

How can I improve my "sense of hearing"?

While you can't change your inherent auditory capabilities, you can improve your listening skills. Focus on actively listening to sounds around you and practicing mindfulness to enhance auditory perception.

What does it mean to have a heightened "sense of hearing"?

A heightened "sense of hearing" means having a greater sensitivity to sounds. This can occur naturally or as a result of adapting to the loss of another sense, such as sight.

What's the difference between "sense of hearing" and "skill of listening"?

The "sense of hearing" refers to the physical ability to perceive sounds. The "skill of listening" involves actively paying attention to and interpreting those sounds.

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

You can use alternatives like "auditory perception" or "ability to hear", depending on the context.