so called sentence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "so called sentence" is correct and usable in written English, although it is often written as "so-called sentence." You can use it when referring to something that is commonly referred to by a particular name, but you may want to express skepticism or doubt about that name.
Example: "The so-called sentence was actually a fragment and did not convey a complete thought."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

On this view (also called 'filler-', 'realizer' or 'occupant-functionalism') a specification of the relevant role typically obtained by a logical construction (the so called "Ramsey sentence") from the theory containing a predicate that signifies this property merely serves as a description to pick out the property that plays the functional role in the actual world.

SEP

Zero-place predicate letters are sometimes called "sentence letters".

SEP

The so called "smiling official" Yang Dacai, recently sentenced to 14 years for corruption, is not the first Chinese official to be in trouble because of the luxury watches he wears.

BBC

A verb (Latin verbum, word, so called as it is the principal word in the sentence (in Latin at least)) shows action or state of being and indicates the time of that action or state.

WikiHow

Furthermore, end-of-sentence judgment tasks of various sorts—so called "off-line" tasks tend to be used (e.g., Van der Linden et al. 1999; Kemper and Sumner 2001; Humphries et al. 2006), and these also increase working memory demands by requiring subjects to wait until the end of a sentence to make their judgment.

Cerebral Cortex

The previous maximum sentence of six months will be quadrupled to tackle so called trolls.

BBC

Ilgauskas, so called.

The New Yorker

Quirky hours, so call.

Forbes

In a sneering cross-examination Tuesday, Henry Brennan, a lawyer on Whitey's defense team, referred to Martorano's deal for a "so-called sentence" of 14 years (12 served) for 20 murders and asked the Executioner if he felt he was killing out of honor and integrity.

The New York Times

We will investigate methods for identifying and classifying period characters in these text types, as a sub task of the so-called sentence boundary detection problem.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

So, when Republicans call for sentencing or drug reforms, it becomes safe for everyone to support the reforms.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "so called sentence", be sure your audience understands that you are expressing a degree of skepticism or detachment from the term. If neutrality is needed, consider alternatives.

Common error

Avoid using "so called sentence" simply as a stylistic choice. The phrase implies doubt or disagreement, and misusing it can confuse or alienate your reader. Ensure that your skepticism is justified.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so called sentence" functions as a qualifier, typically used to express skepticism or reservation about whether something truly deserves to be labeled as a "sentence". As Ludwig AI states, it is correct and usable, yet it's frequency is low.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically correct, the phrase "so called sentence" carries a connotation of skepticism or doubt. It is used to refer to something that is nominally a sentence, but the speaker may not fully agree with that classification. According to Ludwig AI, it is usable although it's frequency is low and should be used carefully to convey the intended meaning. When a neutral term is needed, alternatives like "the sentence in question" are more suitable. Consider the context and audience carefully before employing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

so-called sentence

Adds a hyphen, making it a compound adjective modifying "sentence". This is a common and accepted variation.

purported sentence

Replaces "so called" with "purported", suggesting a claim or appearance that may not be accurate.

the alleged sentence

Emphasizes that the sentence's validity or existence is under question.

ostensible sentence

Uses "ostensible" to indicate something presented as true but potentially different underneath.

what some refer to as a sentence

A more descriptive phrase indicating that the term is used by others, but the speaker might disagree.

the presumed sentence

Indicates an assumption about the sentence that may not be correct.

self-proclaimed sentence

Suggests the sentence is described in that way by itself or its creator, perhaps without external validation.

the nominal sentence

Emphasizes that the sentence is so in name only, and may not truly function as a proper sentence.

the self-styled sentence

Suggests the descriptor is chosen by the sentence itself without validation.

the sentence in question

Focuses on a specific sentence under discussion, without implying skepticism about its nature.

FAQs

How do I use "so called sentence" in a sentence?

Use "so called sentence" to refer to something labeled as a sentence, but which you doubt is actually a sentence in the proper sense. For example: "The "so called sentence" was missing a verb."

What can I say instead of "so called sentence"?

You can use alternatives like "purported sentence", "alleged sentence", or "ostensible sentence" depending on the context.

Is it correct to write "so-called sentence" with a hyphen?

Yes, "so-called sentence" is a common and accepted variation. The hyphenated form functions as a compound adjective modifying "sentence".

What's the difference between "so called sentence" and "the sentence in question"?

"So called sentence" implies some doubt about whether it truly qualifies as a sentence. "The sentence in question" simply refers to a specific sentence under discussion, without any implied judgment.