thing of him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thing of him" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a thought or sentiment about someone, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "I often think of him when I hear that song."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Penelope, who has left Harold, returns to ask one thing of him.

The New York Times

"That's why this whole thing of him going to live in Syria and join Isis doesn't make any sense".

Independent

And that whole cornball thing of him being the one to throw the first brick.

The Guardian - Film

"He joked, 'At least the green jacket is on the airplane.' It was a very unbelievable thing of him to do.

The New York Times - Sports

"I assume someone whispered that into the President's ear while he was talking to me," Green wrote to me, "but, regardless, it was a very generous thing of him to say".

The New Yorker

"Henry James is in essence inscrutable," Wister wrote to Mitchell, "but one thing of him I know: our language has no artist more serious or austere at this moment.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

In this way God is approached negatively by denying things of Him rather than by directly knowing what God is.

SEP

"Seek his Kingdom first and everything else will be added!" Spend time with God, think on Him and the things of Him, and seek His will--to do it.

WikiHow

They wanted to break his contract so began to demand humilitating things of him.

The New Yorker

Now he's got that little difficulty out of the way, I expect much better things of him.

The New Yorker

In recent days, Dr. Abdellah said the Kurdish authorities demanded three things of him: that he stay off Facebook, refrain from news media interviews and leave Erbil.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "thing of him" in formal writing. Opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives like "aspect of him" or "memory of him" to improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "thing of him" as a direct object. Instead, rephrase the sentence to use a more appropriate verb and object combination. For example, instead of saying "I need that thing of him", try "I need that item from him".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thing of him" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically attempting to modify a noun or verb. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, its grammatical structure is often incorrect and lacks clarity, leading to awkward phrasing. It often requires restructuring to convey the intended meaning effectively.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "thing of him" appears in various sources, including news and media, science, and wikis, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect and lacking clarity. It's best to avoid this phrase in formal writing and instead opt for more precise alternatives like "aspect of him", "memory of him", or other contextually appropriate substitutes. This ensures better communication and avoids potential misunderstandings. Utilizing authoritative sources and adhering to grammatical best practices will significantly improve your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aspect of him

Replaces "thing" with "aspect" for a more formal and specific reference to a characteristic.

quality of him

Uses "quality" instead of "thing" to emphasize a particular trait or characteristic.

memory of him

Focuses on a remembered detail or event associated with the person.

thought of him

Highlights the act of thinking about the person or something related to them.

feeling about him

Emphasizes an emotional response or sentiment directed towards the person.

idea about him

Refers to a concept or understanding concerning the person.

impression of him

Captures the overall sense or image formed about the person.

sense of him

Conveys an intuitive or vague understanding of the person.

understanding of him

Highlights a deeper comprehension of the person's character or motivations.

opinion of him

Expresses a judgment or viewpoint regarding the person.

FAQs

How can I correctly use phrases similar to "thing of him"?

Instead of "thing of him", use more precise and grammatically correct alternatives depending on the context. For example, use "aspect of him" to refer to a characteristic, or "memory of him" when talking about a recollection.

What are better alternatives to "thing of him" in formal writing?

In formal writing, it's best to avoid "thing of him" because it is vague and grammatically awkward. Instead, consider using alternatives like "quality of him" or "impression of him" for clarity and professionalism.

When is it appropriate to use a phrase like "thing of him"?

While not grammatically ideal, a phrase like "thing of him" might appear in informal speech or creative writing where strict grammatical rules are less critical. However, for clarity and correctness, aim for alternatives like "thought of him" in most contexts.

How does "thing of him" differ from more grammatically sound alternatives?

The phrase "thing of him" is grammatically awkward and lacks precision. More structured phrases, such as "sense of him" or "understanding of him", provide a clearer and more accurate description of what you intend to convey.