sheer emotion

USAGE SUMMARY

"sheer emotion" is correct and can be used in written English.
You could use it to describe a feeling of overwhelming emotion or raw emotion without any protection. For example, "The song brought up a surge of sheer emotion that nearly brought me to tears."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

I play on sheer emotion.

The New York Times - Sports

"For the sheer emotion of it, I would have to choose that game," Klopp said.

Independent

He might even argue, as others have, that "Intermezzo," static and somewhat abstract, largely replacing action with sheer emotion, simply does not make for effective opera.

The New York Times - Arts

No, it was the sheer emotion and staggering wealth of its opposition in the three years since then that made the city synonymous with Kennedy's bitterest critics.

The New York Times - Books

True, she might pronounce the song's title as "Ah Bah Ma Shev", but that doesn't detract from the sheer emotion of the moment.

The Guardian - Film

You might say that works like "The Seasons" (1957) are fully ripe: ripe not just in terms of their allusion to vegetal shapes, hot pink and green, interweaving and dense, but also in terms of maturity and sheer emotion, the emotion mixing elements of violence with sex.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

In "sheer human emotion," he said, "you can well imagine -- or perhaps you can't imagine".

The New York Times

He was a paragon of nature who led by virtue of his extraordinary personal gifts, and who bound his followers to him through sheer, intense emotion.

Princeton University

Boswell's portrait, Bell writes, was of "a paragon of nature who led by virtue of his extraordinary personal gifts, and who bound his followers to him through sheer, intense emotion". Bell concludes that those qualities — and the right chronicler — are as important today as they were then.

Princeton University

During the course of the day, I think what we saw, though, was just the sheer, raw emotion from the testimony of Dr. Ford, and I kind of compare it to two things.

Huffington Post

But he admitted that, for those who paid close attention to the soundtrack, there was nothing like the sound of a real orchestra for sheer power and emotion.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sheer emotion" to convey an authentic and powerful feeling, particularly in situations where artificiality or restraint might be expected.

Common error

Avoid using "sheer emotion" to describe ordinary or trivial feelings; reserve it for situations involving intense, overwhelming experiences. Opt for more appropriate terms like "slight sadness" or "mild annoyance" when describing these feelings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sheer emotion" primarily functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'sheer' intensifies the noun 'emotion'. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and can be used in written English to describe a feeling of overwhelming emotion or raw emotion.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

12%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sheer emotion" is a grammatically correct and relatively uncommon phrase used to describe intense and genuine feelings. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English, highlighting its effectiveness in conveying overwhelming emotional states. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase adds emphasis and authenticity to descriptions of emotional experiences. While versatile, it's important to reserve "sheer emotion" for situations where the intensity of feeling is significant, avoiding overuse in trivial contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intense feeling

Focuses on the strength and depth of the emotion.

raw emotion

Emphasizes the unfiltered and genuine nature of the feeling.

unadulterated feeling

Highlights the purity and lack of artificiality in the emotion.

overwhelming emotion

Stresses the intensity and all-encompassing nature of the feeling.

profound emotion

Emphasizes the depth and significance of the emotional experience.

genuine emotion

Highlights the authenticity and sincerity of the feeling.

pure emotion

Focuses on the clarity and simplicity of the feeling.

powerful emotion

Highlights the force and impact of the emotional experience.

uncontrollable emotion

Emphasizes the inability to manage or suppress the feeling.

undiluted emotion

Highlights the lack of moderation or tempering of the emotion.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "sheer emotion" in a sentence?

Use "sheer emotion" to describe an experience filled with raw, unfiltered, and intense feelings. For example, "The performance was delivered with "sheer emotion" that captivated the audience."

What are some alternatives to "sheer emotion"?

You can use alternatives like "intense feeling", "raw emotion", or "overwhelming emotion", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "sheer emotion" in formal writing?

Yes, "sheer emotion" is appropriate in formal writing when accurately describing a moment of significant and powerful feeling. However, ensure that the context warrants such strong language.

What distinguishes "sheer emotion" from simply saying "emotion"?

"Sheer emotion" implies an unfiltered and potent display of feeling. Simply stating "emotion" is a more neutral term, lacking the emphasis on intensity and genuineness conveyed by ""sheer emotion"".