sensitive of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sensitive of" is not correct and should not be used in written English.
Instead, the phrase "sensitive to" should be used. Example: She is sensitive to other people's feelings.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

David, the more sensitive of the two liked to draw and stayed indoors.

The New Yorker

He described Iraq's biological facilities as among the most sensitive of all the weapons efforts.

The New York Times

"It's my belief that they're very sensitive of the fact that we've got an election scheduled," he said.

The Guardian

Mr. Gore, he said, wants his lieutenants to be "politically sensitive of what might step over the line".

The New York Times

Houellebecq shares with his creation a delight in provoking that most sensitive of audiences, the French intellectual left.

The Guardian - Books

Ms. Perkins is delicious, and Mr. Louis is charming as the far warmer, more sensitive of the two.

The New York Times - Arts

"There are 700 districts in New York State, and school aid is among the most sensitive of political issues".

The New York Times

They contained what Regan believed to be the most sensitive of all the secrets he had pilfered.

The Guardian

And that leads to the most sensitive of McCain's past mistakes: the dissolution of his first marriage.

The New Yorker

"You need to be sensitive of the rules of interfering with people on a Web site," Ms. Gier said.

The New York Times - Tech

The most sensitive of these chores is establishing civilian administration, members of the Garner team have said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's awareness of a situation, consider using more precise alternatives like "mindful of" or "aware of" to better convey the intended meaning.

Common error

The preposition "of" is often mistakenly used instead of "to" after the adjective "sensitive". Always double-check your preposition choice to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sensitive of" functions as an adjective describing a state of being easily affected or responsive. Ludwig AI reports that this phrase is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced by "sensitive to". The examples, although numerous, don't override its grammatical incorrectness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "sensitive of" appears frequently across various sources, including news, scientific articles, and formal business documents, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form is "sensitive to". Despite the phrase's common usage, especially in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, writers should avoid "sensitive of" and opt for "sensitive to" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity in their writing. Utilizing alternatives such as "mindful of" or "aware of" can also provide a more nuanced expression depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sensitive to

Replaces the incorrect preposition "of" with the correct preposition "to", improving grammatical accuracy.

mindful of

Indicates an awareness and consideration for something, similar to being sensitive.

aware of

Focuses on the knowledge or perception of something, rather than emotional responsiveness.

conscious of

Highlights a deliberate awareness of a particular situation or issue.

considerate of

Emphasizes thoughtfulness and concern for others.

responsive to

Implies a readiness to react positively or appropriately to something.

susceptible to

Highlights a vulnerability or tendency to be affected by something.

impressionable to

Describes someone easily influenced by external factors.

vulnerable to

Indicates a state of being open to emotional or physical harm.

understanding of

Emphasizes comprehension and empathy towards a situation or person.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "sensitive of"?

The correct way to phrase this is "sensitive to". The preposition "to" should be used instead of "of".

What does it mean to be "sensitive to" something?

To be "sensitive to" something means to be easily affected by it, either physically or emotionally. It implies a heightened awareness or reactivity.

Can I use "sensitive about" instead of "sensitive to"?

While "sensitive about" is grammatically correct, it has a slightly different meaning. It implies being easily offended or defensive about a particular topic, whereas "sensitive to" generally indicates awareness or responsiveness.

What are some alternatives to saying someone is "sensitive to" something?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "mindful of", "aware of", or "conscious of".