thick fog

USAGE SUMMARY

"thick fog" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a type of bad weather when visibility is poor due to a heavy accumulation of moisture in the air. For example, "The sky was grey and a thick fog hung over the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There was thick fog.

The New Yorker

"It's like walking in a thick fog".

The New York Times

A thick fog of gunsmoke hung everywhere.

The New Yorker

Light emerges like sun through thick fog.

The New York Times - Arts

He was alone in thick fog.

The New Yorker

A thick fog rolled onto Staten Island early Saturday.

The New York Times

A thick fog engulfed me, restricting my vision.

The Guardian - Travel

Poor weather conditions and thick fog complicated the rescue operation.

The Guardian

Heavy rains and thick fog had stymied search operations.

The New York Times

As I climb higher into the Appalachians, a thick fog rolls over my car.

The Economist

Thick fog prevented search parties from locating the plane on Wednesday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thick fog" to foreshadow events in a story, hinting at obscured truths or upcoming challenges that characters will face due to limited visibility.

Common error

Avoid repetitive use of "thick fog" within short passages. Vary your descriptions with synonyms or by focusing on the fog's effects on sound and other senses to maintain reader engagement and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thick fog" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "thick" modifies the noun "fog". Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. It acts as a descriptive element, typically within a sentence to denote a specific atmospheric condition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

9%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thick fog" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a weather condition with significantly reduced visibility. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in diverse contexts. Primarily found in news and media, it effectively sets scenes, creates atmosphere, and explains disruptions caused by poor weather. While versatile, be mindful of overuse in descriptive passages. Synonyms like "dense mist" or "heavy haze" offer alternatives. This phrase serves well in both literal descriptions and metaphorical expressions to convey confusion or obscured perspectives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impenetrable fog

Focuses on the inability to see through the fog, highlighting the severe limitation of visibility.

opaque fog

Emphasizes the fog's lack of transparency, making it impossible to see through.

dense mist

Replaces "fog" with "mist", implying a slightly less intense form of obscured visibility but maintaining the density aspect.

enveloping fog

Highlights the way the fog surrounds and obscures everything.

a blanket of fog

Uses a metaphorical description to convey the widespread and complete coverage of the fog.

heavy haze

Substitutes "fog" with "haze", indicating a slightly drier, but still significantly limiting, atmospheric condition.

murky fog

Focuses on the dirty or unclear quality of the fog, adding a sense of unease.

pea soup fog

Uses a common idiom to describe extremely dense fog, emphasizing its thickness and color.

smothering fog

Suggests the fog is heavy and restrictive, almost as if it's suffocating the landscape.

cloying fog

Describes a fog that is so thick that it feels oppressive or suffocating.

FAQs

How can I use "thick fog" in a sentence?

You can use "thick fog" to describe weather conditions, as in "A "thick fog" rolled in, delaying our flight" or to create a metaphorical sense, such as "He navigated the situation through a "thick fog" of confusion".

What words or phrases are similar to "thick fog"?

Similar phrases include "dense mist", "heavy haze", or the idiom "pea soup fog", all describing poor visibility due to atmospheric conditions.

Is it appropriate to use "thick fog" in formal writing?

Yes, "thick fog" is appropriate in formal writing. It is a standard descriptive phrase with no colloquial or informal connotations.

How does "thick fog" differ from "light fog"?

"Thick fog" implies significantly reduced visibility, making it difficult to see even short distances, while "light fog" suggests a milder obscuration with better visibility.