strained breathing

USAGE SUMMARY

"strained breathing" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where someone is having difficulty breathing, often due to exertion or a medical condition. An example could be: "After the long run, he was left with strained breathing." Alternative expressions include "labored breathing" and "difficult breathing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

She listened silently for a moment, until she could hear his strained breathing.

The New Yorker

Graber, focussing on the dying detainee's strained breathing, fatally shot him.

The New Yorker

I had never listened to the strained breathing of a body barely functioning and had never put my head beside a man too weak to speak, smelled his pungent breath and silently shared his day in, day out view of the white popcorn ceiling.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But then I could hear that Anthony's breathing became strained, and within a mile he was asking to rest.

The New York Times

The most prominent features of pain in dementia patients are challenging behaviour, such as vocalizations (crying, screaming), noisy breathing, facial expressions (e.g. grimacing), restless or strained body expressions, aggressiveness and resistance to care [ 7, 8].

BMC Geriatrics

No more strained pulp!

The New York Times - Magazine

Breathing, breathing.

The New Yorker

She gives a strained laugh.

The New Yorker

Has this strained relations?

The Washington Post

A strained relationship existed betw.

The New Yorker

Parker has a strained hamstring.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In medical or descriptive contexts, pair the phrase with verbs like 'hear', 'notice' or 'observe' to ground the description in sensory experience.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase when describing normal recovery from exercise. While breathing is heavy after a run, it is only 'strained' if it appears difficult, unnatural or painful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strained breathing" functions as a descriptive noun phrase. It consists of the past participle 'strained', acting as an adjective, and the gerund 'breathing'. In many Ludwig examples, it serves as the object of sensory verbs, allowing the writer to highlight the audible or visible symptoms of a patient or character.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

To conclude, "strained breathing" is a precise and grammatically sound phrase used to describe difficulty in respiration. Ludwig AI data demonstrates that while the phrase is relatively rare in casual speech, it is a staple of high-quality writing in both the sciences and the humanities. It effectively bridges the gap between clinical observation and evocative storytelling. While you may consider alternatives like labored breathing for more medical contexts, "strained breathing" remains an excellent choice for describing any situation where the act of breathing requires visible or audible effort. Its consistent use by authoritative sources like The New York Times and Harvard University guarantees its reliability for professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

labored breathing

Carries a more clinical connotation of physical struggle.

difficulty breathing

Provides a more direct and literal description of the condition.

gasping for air

Suggests a higher level of urgency and acute distress.

shortness of breath

Acts as the standard medical term for the symptom.

heavy breathing

Usually associated with physical exertion rather than medical distress.

wheezing

Specific to a whistling sound during respiration.

ragged breathing

Conveys a sense of exhaustion, unevenness or pain.

raspy breathing

Focuses on the rough or scratchy sound of the breath.

struggling to breathe

Emphasizes the active effort of the person involved.

shallow breathing

Refers to the depth of the breaths rather than the effort.

FAQs

How to use "strained breathing" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a person in distress, such as: "The room was silent except for the sound of his "strained breathing"."

What can I say instead of "strained breathing"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "labored breathing", "shortness of breath" or "difficulty breathing".

Is "strained breathing" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is a perfectly correct noun phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage in reputable sources like The New Yorker and Harvard University.

What is the difference between "strained breathing" and "labored breathing"?

While both describe difficulty, "labored breathing" is often used in a more clinical or serious medical sense, whereas "strained breathing" is commonly used in literature to describe physical or emotional tension.