shook vigorously

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shook vigorously" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a forceful or energetic shaking motion, often in the context of mixing or agitating something. Example: "He shook the bottle vigorously to ensure the contents were well mixed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Onstage, he threw a switch and the hand shook vigorously.

The New York Times - Tech

If females shook vigorously for approximately 10 min they were exchanged for other females.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

0.2 ml of chloroform (Sigma Aldrich) was added to the supernatant and samples were shook vigorously for 15 seconds.

BMC Genomics

Samples were then shook vigorously for 15 seconds after adding 0.2 ml chloroform and centrifuged at 12,000 g for 10 minutes at 4°C.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Frothing test was used to determine the presence of saponins, where 2 mL of the extract was shook vigorously for 4 minutes and the presence of honey-comb froth indicated the existence of saponins.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Cover and shake vigorously.

The New York Times - Magazine

Screw on the lid tightly and shake vigorously to emulsify.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Add the gin and lemon purée, and shake vigorously.

The New York Times

The resulting solution was shaken vigorously and allowed to separate.

Clinical Phytoscience

Then the sample was shaken vigorously for a few seconds.

Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences

The bottles were shaken vigorously before each MS measurement.

Geochemical Transactions

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an action in scientific procedures or recipes, use "shook vigorously" to clearly communicate the need for a forceful shaking motion to achieve thorough mixing or agitation.

Common error

Avoid using "shook vigorously" when a more nuanced verb like "trembled", "quivered", or "jolted" would more accurately convey the type and intensity of the shaking. Overuse can make your writing repetitive and less impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shook vigorously" functions as a verb phrase, where "shook" is the past tense of the verb "shake", and "vigorously" is an adverb modifying the verb. It describes the manner in which an object or entity was shaken. As Ludwig indicates, it's grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "shook vigorously" is a grammatically correct way to describe a forceful shaking action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for use in a range of contexts. While relatively rare in overall usage, it appears most commonly in scientific and news-related content. When using this phrase, ensure the context calls for a description of a deliberate, strong shaking motion and consider synonyms if a more nuanced description is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

agitated forcefully

Replaces "shook" with "agitated" and "vigorously" with "forcefully", both maintaining the sense of energetic movement.

shook with force

Replaces "vigorously" with the prepositional phrase "with force", offering a more direct expression of the action.

trembled intensely

Shifts the meaning slightly to trembling, implying a rapid, involuntary shaking movement, intensified by "intensely".

quivered rapidly

Similar to trembled, quivered suggests a lighter, faster shaking, modified by "rapidly".

jolted violently

Focuses on a sudden, sharp shaking motion, using "violently" to express intensity.

rocked ferociously

Emphasizes a back-and-forth shaking movement, with "ferociously" indicating a wild, uncontrolled manner.

oscillated powerfully

Suggests a rhythmic shaking or swaying motion, highlighted by "powerfully".

vibrated strongly

Highlights a rapid, continuous shaking movement, using "strongly" to convey its intensity.

convulsed wildly

Suggests an uncontrolled, spasmic shaking motion, with "wildly" emphasizing its erratic nature.

churned energetically

Implies a more circular, mixing type of shaking, with "energetically" denoting high activity.

FAQs

How can I use "shook vigorously" in a sentence?

You can use "shook vigorously" to describe a forceful shaking action, such as "He "shook vigorously" to mix the ingredients" or "The machine "shook vigorously" during the test."

What are some alternatives to "shook vigorously"?

Alternatives include "agitated forcefully", "shook with force", or "trembled intensely" depending on the specific context you wish to convey.

Is "shook vigorously" formal or informal?

"Shook vigorously" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more descriptive alternatives might be preferred in creative writing. Context determines the appropriateness.

When is it inappropriate to use "shook vigorously"?

It might be inappropriate if the context requires a more specific description of the shaking motion (e.g., trembling, quivering) or if the level of force is minimal. In those cases, consider alternatives that better reflect the action's intensity and nature.