shush

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shush" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to request silence or quietness, often in a playful or informal context. Example: "The teacher asked the students to shush so she could start the lesson."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He mocked himself, talking fondly about his wife and telling a story about his five-year-old daughter complaining about being told to shush while her father did yet another radio interview.

The Economist

They call their dogs, tie their shoelaces, shush their teething babies and look for reassurance to the striking of the town clock.

The Economist

Dragons Were the show ever to devolve into silliness (what? "devolve" you say? Oh shush), we'd have to keep watching if only to see what kind of Armageddon the Khaleesi's fire-breathing brood might yet cause.

Independent

She resists me, so I must shush her like a child.

The New Yorker

She screams and I have to shush her again.

The New Yorker

"Bitch!" Malinda turned around to glower at her, and raise her hand to her lips in a gesture denoting not "Shush" but "Shut up and sing".

The New Yorker

Even if you got inside, the librarians would shush you, carping about how the "young fry" read nothing but "the trashy": Scott, Cooper, and Dickens (one century's garbage being, as ever, another century's Great Books).

The New Yorker

"I've had to ask, 'Who wants to go to jail for a shush fight?' " .

The New Yorker

She would try to shush her baby sisters when they made noise.

The New Yorker

"We don't let people shush other people," Christian said.

The New Yorker

"Shuga, shush," Camae says to King, in response to his transparent come-on.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shush" to gently quiet someone, especially in informal settings. It's more polite than a direct command for silence but less formal than "please be quiet".

Common error

Avoid using "shush" in professional environments like business meetings or formal presentations. Opt for more appropriate phrases such as "please be quiet" or "let's keep the noise down" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "shush" is as an imperative verb, used to command or request silence. Ludwig AI examples show its use both directly (e.g., "Shush!") and within sentences (e.g., "She had to shush her baby sisters").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "shush" functions primarily as a verb used to request silence. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in News & Media. Though typically informal, it appears in varied contexts, commanding a high expert rating. Related phrases include "be quiet" and "hush", with careful consideration for formality. Best practice is to use "shush" in informal situations, avoiding it in professional settings. Finally, it is important to balance its usage between the two meanings, either as a verb in sentences, or as an interjection.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be quiet

A general request for silence, less abrupt than "shush".

hush

Similar to "shush", but can also imply a comforting silence.

silence

A more formal command for quiet.

quiet please

A polite request for silence.

hold your tongue

An idiomatic expression indicating to stop talking.

not a peep

An instruction that no one should make a sound.

button it

Informal way to tell someone to be quiet.

pipe down

Informal, often used in British English, to ask for less noise.

shut your mouth

A rude way to tell someone to be quiet.

give it a rest

Suggests someone stop talking about something.

FAQs

How do you use "shush" in a sentence?

You can use "shush" as a verb to tell someone to be quiet, for example, "She had to shush the children during the movie" or as an interjection, "Shush! I'm trying to listen."

What are some synonyms for "shush"?

Alternatives to "shush" include "be quiet", "hush", or "silence", depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it rude to say "shush"?

While generally considered less harsh than a direct command, "shush" can still come across as impolite, especially in formal situations. Consider the recipient and context before using it.

What's the difference between "shush" and "hush"?

"Shush" is typically used to immediately quiet someone, while "hush" can also mean to calm or soothe someone, or to become quiet.