thunder was crashing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thunder was crashing" is not correct in standard English usage.
Typically, "thunder" is described as "rumbling" or "rolling" rather than "crashing." Example: "As the storm approached, the thunder was rumbling ominously in the distance."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We're crashing.

The New Yorker

"Things were crashing.

Forbes

The Thunder was too much.

Los Angeles Times

The storm has arrived, the thunder is rolling while lightning crashes down.

Huffington Post

The entertainment was breathless and the elements were in tune: the crashes of thunder were on an epic scale.

The Guardian - Sport

The thunder is biological.

The New York Times - Arts

The Thunder are?

The New Yorker

This year, the thunder is roaring.

The New Yorker

"The Thunder is America's team".

The New York Times - Sports

The Thunder is a magical team.

The New York Times

"The Thunder are part of us.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the specific effect you want to convey—rolling, echoing, or explosive—and choose a verb that accurately reflects that sound.

Common error

Avoid using "crashing" with "thunder" as it's not idiomatic. "Crashing" typically describes physical impacts, not the sound of thunder, which is better described with verbs like "rumbling" or "booming".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thunder was crashing" attempts to describe the sound produced during a thunderstorm. However, Ludwig AI indicates this phrasing is not grammatically correct. Standard usage favors verbs like "rumbled" or "boomed" to describe thunder.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "thunder was crashing" attempts to depict the sound of thunder, Ludwig AI deems it grammatically incorrect. More appropriate alternatives include "thunder rumbled" or "thunder boomed", which better align with standard English usage. Given this, it's advisable to avoid "thunder was crashing" in formal contexts and opt for the suggested alternatives to accurately and effectively describe the sounds of a thunderstorm.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thunder rumbled

Replaces "crashing" with "rumbled" to focus on the deep, rolling sound of thunder.

thunder boomed

Uses "boomed" instead of "crashing" to emphasize the loud, resonant quality of thunder.

thunder echoed

Shifts the focus to the reverberating nature of thunder sounds.

thunder resounded

Emphasizes the powerful and far-reaching sound of thunder.

the thunder crashed

Reorders the phrase for a slightly different emphasis but maintains the core meaning, still might be grammatically incorrect.

thunder was clapping

Employs "clapping" to evoke the sharp, percussive sound of thunder.

thunder roared

Presents thunder as a loud, aggressive sound, similar to a lion's roar.

the sound of thunder crashing

Adds "the sound of" to specify that the crashing action refers to the thunder's sound, still might be grammatically incorrect.

thunder pealed

Replaces "crashing" with "pealed" to suggest a loud, ringing sound.

thunder reverberated

Focuses on the echoing and prolonged nature of the thunder's sound.

FAQs

Is "thunder was crashing" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "thunder was crashing" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's more appropriate to say "thunder rumbled" or "thunder boomed".

What are some better ways to describe the sound of thunder?

Instead of "thunder was crashing", you could say "thunder rumbled", "thunder boomed", or "thunder echoed". These options are more idiomatic and accurately depict the sound of thunder.

Why is "crashing" not typically used to describe thunder?

"Crashing" usually implies a physical impact or collision. Thunder, being a sound, is better described with verbs that convey its acoustic properties, such as "rumbling", "booming", or "resounding".

In what contexts might I use descriptions similar to "thunder was crashing"?

While "thunder was crashing" is not standard, you might use similar language in creative writing to personify thunder or emphasize its intensity, but be aware that it deviates from conventional usage. Consider alternatives like "the storm crashed" or "lightning crashed" to convey the energy of a storm, if appropriate.