syntactic construction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "syntactic construction" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in discussions about grammar, linguistics, or the structure of sentences. Example: "In linguistics, a syntactic construction refers to the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Finally, he looked at the well-documented syntactic construction "needs X-ed" (as in "the car needs washed"), which is common in the Midwest and especially around Pittsburgh.

The New York Times

In Romance, Latin inflectional endings have been much reduced, and more reliance is placed on syntactic construction to convey sentence meaning; that is, Romance languages are more "analytic" than the predominantly "synthetic" Latin.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Since the 1950s, the existential as a special syntactic construction has been much discussed, with new insights appearing from time to time.

Functional Linguistics

This research examined the potential effects on comprehension of dative expressions that exhibited syntactic alternation versus those that were restricted, whether in syntactic construction or through marked semantic differences in construction.

Autism Research

For a child with typical central coherence approaching a syntactic construction, the comprehension of that construction is highly informed by experience of the language's grammar, generalized to a degree across individual verbs and instances of usage.

Autism Research

In order to bridge an apparent gap in the existing research, we observed the potential effects on comprehension of dative expressions that exhibited syntactic alternation versus those that were restricted, whether in syntactic construction or because of marked semantic differences in construction.

Autism Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

(Arabic and Persian also had an effect on the grammars of a number of Altaic languages, as in, for example, Iranian influence on the sound system of Uzbek and numerous syntactic constructions in Turkish).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Section 6 summarizes the influences of pragmatic effects on the choice of syntactic constructions, offering an explanation to the puzzle.

Lingua Sinica

The positional variation is an effective indicator for distinguishing the strength of focal prominence of different syntactic constructions.

Lingua Sinica

The distribution of fixed 'one'-phrases in Modern Mandarin provides more evidence to reveal the tight connection between pragmatic effects and the employment of syntactic constructions.

Lingua Sinica

The foundations of this concept are that syntactic constructions should be optimally "interesting", as the system will only concretely explore forms which are relatively easy to generate.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In less technical contexts, consider using alternatives like "sentence structure" or "grammatical arrangement" for clearer communication.

Common error

Avoid using "syntactic construction" when a simpler term like "sentence structure" or "grammar" suffices. Overusing technical jargon can make your writing less accessible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "syntactic construction" functions as a noun phrase, typically used to describe the way words and phrases are arranged to form sentences. It describes the rules and principles of sentence formation in a language, following Ludwig AI's explanation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

News & Media

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "syntactic construction" is a grammatically correct term used to describe the arrangement of words and phrases in sentences. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, its frequency is uncommon, primarily appearing in scientific and encyclopedic contexts. For broader audiences, simpler alternatives like "sentence structure" may be preferred. While technically sound, using this term where simpler language would do might make your writings less clear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grammatical structure

This term emphasizes the overall organization and rules governing sentence formation, focusing on the arrangement of grammatical elements.

sentence structure

This alternative highlights how a sentence is built, emphasizing word order and relationships between parts of the sentence.

syntactic structure

This emphasizes the abstract relationships between words in a sentence.

grammatical arrangement

This phrase focuses on the specific order and placement of grammatical elements within a sentence.

sentence formation

This describes how sentences are created following specific grammatical rules.

linguistic construction

This is a broader term that can include both syntax and semantics.

phrasal structure

This term refers to the structure of phrases within a sentence, rather than the whole sentence itself.

clause structure

This describes the structure of clauses, which are components of sentences.

syntactic design

This term is less common but suggests a deliberate planning or arrangement of syntactic elements.

grammatical building

This metaphorically describes the process of constructing sentences using grammatical rules.

FAQs

How is "syntactic construction" used in linguistics?

In linguistics, "syntactic construction" refers to the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences, governed by specific grammatical rules. It is a fundamental concept in understanding how language works.

What's the difference between "syntactic construction" and "syntactic structure"?

While closely related, "syntactic construction" emphasizes the process of building a sentence, whereas "syntactic structure" refers to the resulting arrangement of words and phrases. They are often used interchangeably.

What are some alternatives to "syntactic construction"?

You can use alternatives like "grammatical structure", "sentence structure", or "grammatical arrangement" depending on the context.

Can "syntactic construction" be used in everyday conversation?

While technically correct, "syntactic construction" is more appropriate for academic or technical discussions. In everyday conversation, simpler terms like "sentence structure" or just "grammar" are generally preferred.