show your pen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "show your pen" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to display or present their pen, possibly in a context related to writing or drawing. Example: "During the art class, the teacher asked each student to show their pen to ensure they had the right tools for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Show your pen.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Once it's in there, open up your hands, showing your flabbergasted audience that the pen is nowhere to be found.

WikiHow

Polls currently show Le Pen safely winning the first round of the election in late April, which will advance her to a runoff against the second-place finisher.

The New Yorker

Studies show Le Pen has attracted the working-class vote, more so than Hollande or the Socialist party; also that her supporters tend to be poor, unemployed or in precarious jobs.

The Guardian

Recent surveys show Le Pen would outpoll Hollande and center-right challengers if the 2017 election were held now.

Los Angeles Times

Just be careful not to turn your head, showing the pen.

WikiHow

Start with showing the pen, adjusting your hands as if you have to get it perfect, concentrating really hard, maybe even blinking the pen into thin air.

WikiHow

Studies show that putting pen to paper helps your health and well-being -- in other words, you're doing yourself a favor by putting your accolades in writing.

Huffington Post

Or you can show that Le Pen more than doubled the vote that was garnered by her father, the ox-like Jean-Marie Le Pen, when he, too, stood in the second round of a Presidential election, in 2002.

The New Yorker

All French polls currently show that Le Pen will easily make it through to the final run-off of the French presidential election in May.

The Guardian

Using a Pen-2 knockout mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line rescued with Pen-2 constructs containing single missense mutations, we show that Pen-2 is intimately linked with both γ-secretase maturation and activity.

Biochemistry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "show your pen" when you want someone to literally display a pen or, figuratively, demonstrate their writing ability. In a professional context, it might suggest showcasing skills or tools.

Common error

Avoid using "show your pen" when the context requires a more specific verb. It is not interchangeable with phrases like "demonstrate your skills" or "prove your point" unless the literal display of a pen is relevant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "show your pen" functions as an imperative, directly instructing someone to display their pen. Ludwig AI provides an example where this phrase is used in a context where the literal presentation of a pen is required for verification or readiness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "show your pen" is a grammatically sound imperative used to request someone to display their pen, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its usage frequency is rare, primarily appearing in news and media or wiki contexts. While the phrase is straightforward, it's essential to consider the context to ensure its appropriateness. If literal pen display isn't the focus, alternatives like "demonstrate your skills" might be more suitable. Always be mindful of figurative interpretations and strive for clarity in your communication. Related phrases such as "display your pen" and "present your pen" can also offer nuanced options, depending on the desired formality and intent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

display your pen

Replaces "show" with "display", emphasizing a more formal presentation of the pen.

present your pen

Substitutes "show" with "present", suggesting a deliberate and possibly ceremonial offering of the pen.

reveal your pen

Replaces "show" with "reveal", implying the pen was previously hidden or not visible.

exhibit your pen

Substitutes "show" with "exhibit", suggesting the pen is being displayed as an example or artifact.

produce your pen

Replaces "show" with "produce", implying the pen is being brought forth from a storage place.

unveil your pen

Substitutes "show" with "unveil", suggesting a dramatic or ceremonious revealing of the pen.

flash your pen

Replaces "show" with "flash", suggesting the pen is being displayed quickly or briefly.

brandish your pen

Substitutes "show" with "brandish", implying the pen is being waved or displayed aggressively.

trot out your pen

Replaces "show" with "trot out", suggesting a less common and somewhat humorous display of the pen.

put your pen on display

Rephrases the sentence to put emphasis on the state of showing.

FAQs

How can "show your pen" be used in a sentence?

You can use "show your pen" to ask someone to literally display a pen, as in "Before the test, the proctor asked each student to show their pen". Figuratively, it might imply demonstrating writing ability, though more specific phrasing is usually preferred.

What is a formal alternative to "show your pen"?

More formal alternatives to "show your pen" include phrases like "present your pen" or "display your pen", which suggest a more deliberate or ceremonial offering of the pen or demonstration of skill.

When is it appropriate to use "show your pen" figuratively?

It is appropriate to use "show your pen" figuratively when you want someone to showcase their writing ability or skills related to using a pen. However, be mindful that this usage is less common than more direct alternatives like "demonstrate your writing skills".

Is "show your pen" interchangeable with "prove your point"?

No, "show your pen" is not directly interchangeable with phrases like "prove your point". While displaying a pen might be part of proving a point in a very specific context (e.g., signing a document), the phrases have distinct meanings and should be used accordingly.