sonic cues

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'sonic cues' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used as a technical term to refer to sound signals or signals in audio form which can be used for a variety of purposes, such as in communication or to provide location data. For example, "Animals regularly use sonic cues to communicate with each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Of course, a food company that uses visual or sonic cues to alter consumer experience could readily be accused of manipulation.

The New Yorker

But in the past 10 years, scientists have started exploring how sonic cues influence fish behavior.

Huffington Post

West's version of gospel touches on some of those sonic cues — heavy organ, soaring choirs — but seems more preoccupied with gospel text and the notion of redemption.

Los Angeles Times

Once these sounds were created and stored, the custom music software Kamp created was able to generate a soundtrack from the library for the different episodes using certain sonic cues.

Vice

The marsh hawk, Circus cyaneus, also demonstrate the capability to locate prey through sonic cues while in total darkness (Rice 1982).

Animal Cognition

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

GPS navigation seems to leech us of all the "thick data" of being in place – our sensory apprehensions, including visual, sonic and haptic cues − even as it gifts us such phenomenally accurate directions.

The Guardian - Books

Jones is credited alongside Jackson and Jackson's tour keyboardist and songwriting collaborator Brad Buxer on his website, which mentions their roles in contributing musical cues for "levels 2 & 3" of "Sonic the Hedgehog".

Wikipedia

With every sonic detail of the track, the visuals flashed and pulsated on cue.

Vice

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.02555.002 The secreted Sonic hedgehog (Shh) protein specifies spatial tissue patterns during development by providing positional cues embedded in its concentration gradient (Jiang and Hui, 2008; Robbins et al., 2012; Ryan and Chiang, 2012).

eLife

It turned out that one of them, Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), was expressed in the notochord and floor plate and corresponds to the instructive cue that provides DV polarity to the ventral neural tube.

EMBO Journal

"Sonic Shuffle.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about sensory experiences, use "sonic cues" to specifically refer to auditory signals that provide information about the environment. For visual or tactile signals, use "visual cues" or "tactile cues" instead.

Common error

Avoid using "sonic cues" interchangeably with broader terms like "sensory input". "Sonic cues" refers specifically to auditory information; using it to describe visual or tactile information can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sonic cues" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig examples show it being used to describe auditory signals that influence behavior or provide information.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sonic cues" is a noun phrase referring to sound signals that provide specific information or trigger particular responses. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. While "sonic cues" is a valid term, consider alternatives like "audio signals" or "sound signals" depending on the desired level of technicality or emphasis. When using the term, ensure it accurately reflects auditory information and avoid overgeneralizing it to other sensory inputs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sound signals

A more direct synonym, emphasizing the 'sound' component.

aural signals

Uses 'aural' to emphasize the hearing sense.

auditory signals

Similar to 'aural signals', highlighting the perception of sound.

acoustic signals

Highlights the physical properties of sound.

audio signals

Focuses on the 'signal' aspect, implying a technical use of sound.

sound prompts

Emphasizes the function of sound as a prompt or trigger.

audio prompts

Similar to 'sound prompts', uses 'audio' to specify the type of prompt.

auditory prompts

Synonym for sound prompt, related to perception of sound.

aural prompts

Alternative phrase to describe a sound prompt, with a focus on hearing.

auditory clues

Highlights sound as a hint or piece of information.

FAQs

How can I use "sonic cues" in a sentence?

You can use "sonic cues" to describe how animals navigate or how technology uses sound for feedback. For example, "The device provides "auditory feedback" through a series of "sonic cues".

What's the difference between "sonic cues" and "auditory signals"?

"Sonic cues" often imply a learned association or a specific meaning attached to the sound, while "auditory signals" is a more general term for any type of sound that can be perceived.

Are there other terms for "sonic cues"?

Yes, you can use terms like "audio signals", "sound signals", or "auditory prompts" depending on the specific context.

In what contexts are "sonic cues" most relevant?

"Sonic cues" are frequently discussed in the context of animal behavior, technology design, and food science, where sound plays a critical role in conveying information or influencing behavior.