that best portrays

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that best portrays" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate the most accurate or effective representation of something. Example: "In my opinion, the painting that best portrays the essence of the city is the one by the local artist."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Using only the visual information, respondents are required to select one of four forced-choice mental state descriptors (one target word and three foil words of the same emotional valence) that best portrays the thoughts or feelings expressed by the pictured individuals.

British Journal of Psychology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But if one had to isolate an instant, in the thirty years of his ownership, that best portrayed the Murdoch touch it would be the dictum that he issued, over the phone, on the evening of Saturday, April 23 , 1983

The New Yorker

"I think the best portray of 'normal, regular' women are the Levitra and Viagra ads - and they're not even aimed at women," Hollenbach added.

Huffington Post

Syndecans are one of the best portrayed HSPGs in studies on integrins and their engagement in cancer progression.

BioMed Research International

From the time she married George VI, the plump and pretty Queen Elizabeth, queen consort and later queen mother, carefully crafted an image that conformed to the saccharine beauty ideals best portrayed by the 19th-century portraitist Franz Xaver Winterhalter, a favorite of her husband.

The New York Times

It is clear from the previous effects that the pattern of results can be best portrayed in terms of the factors SOA, before/after, and interval accretion; hence, we plotted the mean DLs as a function of these three factors in Fig.  3.

Attention, Perception & Psychophysics

Rankin said that "the concept for the video was 3D" to best portray how "the people look at your relationships with an optimism that can't be seen from the inside".

Wikipedia

That said, Mortensen is at his most impassioned best portraying a man of principle attempting to hold his family together after losing his wife while cutting them off from both the best and worst of the outside world.

Los Angeles Times

Tim DeKay was cast as Jonesy because the producers felt he best portrayed a "very American" looking baseball player of that period.

Wikipedia

The twists and turns that led Congresswoman Bachmann and her co-signers to make the connection, as well as the irony, are best portrayed by Jon Stewart of The Daily Show.

Huffington Post

Yet deconstructionists and feminists, for example, at their best portray a Shakespeare of enduring greatness.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that best portrays" when you want to emphasize the superiority of one representation over others in accurately depicting a subject. It's particularly effective in contexts where multiple interpretations are possible.

Common error

Avoid using "that best portrays" when a simpler verb like "shows" or "represents" would suffice. Overusing this phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that best portrays" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun and indicating the most effective or accurate representation of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound and understandable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Social Media

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that best portrays" functions as a relative clause used to indicate the most effective or accurate representation of something. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct. While relatively rare, it is suitable for neutral to formal contexts, particularly in News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias, highlighting its role in selecting the most fitting depiction. For alternative phrasing, consider options such as "that accurately depicts" or "that effectively captures" to suit specific nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that accurately depicts

Replaces "best portrays" with a focus on accuracy in representation.

that effectively captures

Emphasizes the ability to seize and hold attention or represent the essence of something.

that vividly illustrates

Highlights the clarity and detail of the representation.

that perfectly embodies

Stresses the idea of being a perfect example or representation.

that distinctly presents

Focuses on the clarity and uniqueness of the presentation.

that faithfully reflects

Highlights the loyalty and accuracy of mirroring something.

that uniquely symbolizes

Emphasizes the symbolic representation with a touch of uniqueness.

that ideally represents

Focuses on the ideal or most suitable form of representation.

that strongly suggests

Indicates a powerful but indirect form of representation.

that closely resembles

Focuses on the similarity and likeness in the representation.

FAQs

How can I use "that best portrays" in a sentence?

Use "that best portrays" to describe something that represents something else in the most accurate or effective way. For example, "The painting "that best portrays" the city's spirit is displayed in the main hall".

What are some alternatives to "that best portrays"?

You can use alternatives like "that accurately depicts", "that effectively captures", or "that vividly illustrates" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to use "best" in the phrase "that best portrays"?

While "best" emphasizes superiority, sometimes "that portrays" is sufficient if you're not comparing representations. However, ""that best portrays"" implies a conscious selection of the most suitable representation.

What's the difference between "that best portrays" and "that accurately portrays"?

"That best portrays" suggests the most effective or evocative depiction, while "that accurately portrays" focuses specifically on the correctness and fidelity of the representation. The former is subjective; the latter, objective.