touched at how

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "touched at how" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where someone expresses emotional sensitivity or appreciation regarding a situation or action. Example: "I was truly touched at how everyone came together to support the cause."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But the 42-year-old did admit to being touched at how he has been accepted at Wigan.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Goldman seemed quite touched at the discovery.

The New Yorker

Given this setup, you might be forgiven for expecting the subsequent story of grief and reconciliation to touch at least glancingly on how it is that all these fine people have learned to get along so well, what biases and resentments must have been overcome and how many acts of goodwill must have been performed to achieve this regrettably rare state of harmony.

The New York Times

Nonetheless, he is a touch fretful at how Svayambh will play in London.

Independent

I was so touched by how they included me for a brief moment in their family day at the beach.

Huffington Post

"Other guys don't touch at all".

The New York Times

Do they overlap, just touch or not touch at all?

Huffington Post

These touching two-handers look at how our need to be noticed can tip over into obsession with celebrity.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

("I like how you touch me. How you barely touch my skin," Connie tells him).

The New Yorker

When she let me touch it, I was surprised at how hard it was.

The New Yorker

In the third of a series of reports for BBC Future and Click, Ian Hardy looks at how touch screens have transformed computing and investigates the technologies that promise to take them to the next level.   .

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "touched at how" to express genuine emotional response to a situation, particularly when appreciating someone's actions or the unfolding of events. Be mindful of the context to ensure it aligns with the informal tone.

Common error

Avoid using "touched at how" in formal writing, such as academic papers or business reports. Opt for more formal alternatives like "moved by how" or "affected by how" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "touched at how" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a subject, expressing an emotional response or sentiment towards a particular situation or action. As Ludwig AI suggests, this specific construction might be considered less standard in formal English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "touched at how" is an acceptable phrase used to express an emotional response, generally of appreciation or gratitude. While not incorrect, Ludwig AI points out it may not be the most standard phrasing for formal contexts, where alternatives like "moved by how" might be preferred. Predominantly found in News & Media, it carries a neutral to informal register, making it best suited for expressing personal feelings. Use with discretion in formal settings, and consider the available alternatives to fine-tune your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moved by how

Replaces "touched" with "moved", emphasizing the emotional impact.

affected by how

Uses "affected" instead of "touched", focusing on the influence something had.

heartened by how

Uses "heartened" instead of "touched", conveying a sense of encouragement and upliftment.

struck by how

Replaces "touched" with "struck", suggesting a sudden and impactful realization.

impressed by how

Changes "touched" to "impressed", highlighting admiration and respect.

inspired by how

Changes "touched" to "inspired", focusing on the motivational aspect.

grateful for how

Substitutes "touched" with "grateful", expressing thankfulness.

appreciative of how

Replaces "touched" with "appreciative", indicating recognition and valuing.

amazed by how

Changes "touched" to "amazed", highlighting a sense of wonder and astonishment.

taken aback by how

Uses "taken aback" instead of "touched", emphasizing surprise and mild shock.

FAQs

How can I use "touched at how" in a sentence?

You can use "touched at how" to express a feeling of gratitude or emotional impact from a specific action or situation. For example, "I was truly "touched at how" everyone came together to support the cause."

What are some alternatives to "touched at how"?

You can use alternatives like "moved by how", "affected by how", or "impressed by how" depending on the specific emotion you want to convey.

Is "touched at how" grammatically correct?

While "touched at how" is commonly used in informal contexts, it may sound awkward in formal settings. It's grammatically acceptable but consider the context when choosing this phrase.

What's the difference between "touched at how" and "touched by how"?

"Touched at how" and "touched by how" are similar, but "touched by how" is more common and may sound more natural to some speakers. Both express a feeling of being emotionally moved by something.