slopes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slopes" is correct and usable in written English, depending on the context.
You can use it when referring to inclined surfaces, such as hills, ramps, or mathematical functions. Example: "The slopes of the mountains were covered in snow, making for a beautiful winter landscape."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the relative isolation this harsh landscape affords also means the fishing villages, hill villages and maritime towns built on and under these slopes have been able to hold on to their charm and beauty as stubbornly as they've clung on to the mountains on which they're so precariously built.

The Guardian - Travel

Matt Turner, editor of hotel design and architecture magazine Sleeper (sleepermagazine.co.uk) There are many things to see and do in the lesser known parts of Austria, beyond the ski slopes and hiking trails.

The Guardian - Travel

As the southern hemisphere slips into winter, so the skiers from the north come down to spend a season on the slopes of Portillo and Termas de Chillan; tearing down the mountains in the morning and lounging on the beaches of the Pacific coast in the afternoon.

The Guardian - Travel

Hiking across it, I passed bleak, scruffy slopes and a lake of cheerless grey.

The Guardian - Travel

On the other side of the island, where the land slopes gently down to a beach, we see what they can do, as they shoot easily through the water.

The Guardian - Travel

These towns (and Pucón to the north) are close to a series of national parks that protect the lakes and forested slopes of the Villarrica and Puyehue volcanoes.

The Guardian - Travel

The pilot was unable to stop the plane, which slid down the slopes, narrowly missing a group of children and passing under a chairlift before clipping the woman and nearly severing her hand.

The Guardian

You can take a creaking funicular up the steepest slopes (the fare is 100 pesos, around 10p) or, if you walk, pause for breath on the climb and turn to see the pink, lemon, lime and ochre houses standing in contrast to the blue of the sky and deep indigo of the ocean.

The Guardian - Travel

From southern Peru, through Bolivia, and into northern Argentina, my route alternated between the luxuriant jungles on the Andes' eastern slopes, and deserts on the west.

The Guardian - Travel

As for Parliament House, Eve remembers it as a place where she and her friends would, after nights out as teenagers, roll down the grassy slopes under the tolerant eye of a lone security guard.

The Guardian

All offer panoramic views of the coast from their patios on the crown of the headland, which slopes down to a white sand beach.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing landscapes, use "slopes" to evoke a sense of natural incline and terrain, providing context for features like vegetation or structures built upon them.

Common error

Ensure that "slopes" is used in contexts where there is a tangible, physical inclination, not merely to describe abstract trends or abstract inclinations.

Linguistic Context

The term "slopes" primarily functions as a noun, often referring to inclined surfaces, particularly in geographical or topographical contexts. Ludwig examples showcase its use in describing landscapes, ski resorts, or even architectural features.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Travel

32%

General

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

16%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "slopes" is a versatile noun primarily used to describe inclined surfaces, commonly in geographical and recreational contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its grammatical usage is correct, and examples from The Guardian and The Economist illustrate its prevalence in news and travel writing. While "inclines" and "gradients" serve as alternatives, "slopes" particularly evokes a sense of natural terrain or recreational areas. A key writing tip is to employ "slopes" when referring to physical inclines, avoiding its use in purely abstract scenarios. This analysis equips writers with a deeper understanding of how to effectively incorporate "slopes" into their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inclines

Focuses more on the degree of deviation from the horizontal or vertical plane.

gradients

Emphasizes the rate of change in elevation or inclination over a given distance.

banks

Refers more specifically to the sides of a river or road that are elevated.

ascents

Highlights the act of going up an inclined surface rather than the surface itself.

declines

Focuses on the downward inclination or descent of a surface.

ramps

Specifies a constructed inclined plane or roadway connecting different levels.

hillsides

Refers to the side of a hill, often emphasizing the natural landscape.

escarpments

Describes a steep slope or long cliff that results from erosion or faulting.

incline planes

More technical term describing flat surfaces at an angle other than 90 degrees.

contour lines

Lines on a map representing points of equal elevation, illustrating slope.

FAQs

How can I use "slopes" in a sentence?

You can use "slopes" to describe geographical features like "mountain slopes", or in contexts involving inclines such as "ski slopes". For instance, "The skiers enjoyed the fresh powder on the mountain slopes".

What are some synonyms for "slopes"?

Alternatives to "slopes" include "inclines", "gradients", or "hillsides", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to use "slopes" in a mathematical context?

Yes, "slopes" can be used in a mathematical context to refer to the steepness of a line or curve, especially when discussing graphs or functions. You might say, "The slopes of the two lines are perpendicular".

What's the difference between "slopes" and "hillsides"?

"Slopes" generally refers to any inclined surface, while "hillsides" specifically denotes the side of a hill. Thus, all "hillsides" are slopes, but not all slopes are necessarily "hillsides".