shallowness

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'shallowness' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to the lack of depth or seriousness in someone or something, or the quality or state of being shallow. Example sentence: The shallowness of the film's plot was extremely disappointing.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

While ecstasy and acid house told us to forget politics and love one another with the deep shallowness of E, Public Enemy were the cold shower, the wake-up call.

The Guardian - Music

This is a necessarily random scattering of books that delve really not that deeply into the shallowness of it all.

The Guardian - Books

There was a receptive audience for the Freudian idea that repressed self-hatred could lead to self-absorption, grandiosity and shallowness in individuals, and for the notion that this personality disorder could somehow be reflected in the spirit of a wealthy, coddled and self-indulgent age.For Sigmund Freud, there was a good sort of narcissism, at least in early life, and a bad sort.

The Economist

He detested the shallowness and artificial obscurity of European-born intellectual fashions such as post-modernism and structuralism.

The Economist

Bundled on to a plane to West Germany in 1974, he turned his fire on other targets, thundering against materialism, shallowness and the silliness of popular Western culture.

The Economist

But does this really mean, as Mr Schwartz Giron argued, that the euro zone's problem has been the shallowness of its recession thus far?

The Economist

There is, too, a shallowness in the homogenisation of African cultures and something ultimately wearing in the allegorical use of animals.

The Economist

Then there are those killjoys who worry that all beauty pageants worsen the shallowness, vacuity, vapidity and narcissism of today's youth.

The Economist

Today's environmental movement owes much to writers such as Henry Thoreau, who contrasted the shallowness of contemporary society with the spiritual depth he found living in a cabin in the woods.Lastly, the theory of evolution undermined the Biblical notion of man as separate from, and appointed by God to have dominion over, the rest of creation.

The Economist

The coming fusillade of attack ads may only accentuate such shallowness.

The Economist

There is a great need for this given the shallowness of the country's domestic capital markets, says Agost Benard, of S&P.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing abstract concepts, use "shallowness" to critique a lack of intellectual or emotional depth. For example, "The shallowness of the political debate was disheartening."

Common error

Avoid using "shallowness" to describe simple enjoyment or preferences; reserve it for critiques of a lack of depth where depth is expected or appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "shallowness" is as a noun. It typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting the quality or state of being shallow. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

9%

Less common in

Independent

8%

The New Yorker

7%

SEP

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shallowness" functions as a noun used to critique a lack of depth, substance, or complexity, as stated by Ludwig AI. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Encyclopedias. Alternatives include ""superficiality"" and ""lack of depth"". When using "shallowness", ensure it accurately reflects a deficiency where depth is expected, avoiding overgeneralization. Remember that the examples in Ludwig show that "shallowness" should be used to signal critique and negative evaluation. The term is appropriate for formal and informal writing alike.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

superficiality

Emphasizes a lack of thoroughness or depth of understanding.

lack of depth

Directly indicates the absence of profound or complex qualities.

lack of substance

Highlights the absence of meaningful or important content.

triviality

Suggests a focus on unimportant or insignificant matters.

superficial nature

Focuses on the surface-level qualities and lack of deeper meaning.

emptiness

Emphasizes a void of meaningful content or emotional depth.

frivolity

Indicates a lighthearted and unserious approach to serious matters.

vacuity

Highlights the lack of intellectual or emotional content.

silliness

Suggests a lack of seriousness and a tendency towards foolishness.

lack of profundity

Specifically points out the absence of deep insight or understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "shallowness" in a sentence?

"Shallowness" is a noun that describes a lack of depth, whether physical, intellectual, or emotional. For example, "Critics often attacked the "superficiality" of the plot, pointing to its "lack of depth" and meaningful character development."

What are some synonyms for "shallowness"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms such as ""superficiality"", ""lack of depth"", "triviality", or "emptiness".

Is it appropriate to use "shallowness" in formal writing?

Yes, "shallowness" is appropriate for formal writing when you need to critique a lack of depth or substance. However, ensure your critique is well-supported with evidence.

What's the difference between "shallowness" and "simplicity"?

"Shallowness" implies a lack of necessary depth or complexity, often negatively. "Simplicity", on the other hand, refers to a lack of complexity without necessarily implying a negative judgment. Something can be simple and effective without being shallow.