traces of use

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'traces of use' is correct and can be used in written English.
For example: "The old furniture still had traces of use, indicative of the many years it had been in the family."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The painted sculptures, of small stones and antique blackboards that bear traces of use, are exceedingly hard to distinguish from the items they mimic, and with which they are paired in the show.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

And they answered that when doing up-cycling, the clothes were weak and unclean with trace of use in up-cycling material itself, falling the sense of satisfaction.

Fashion and Textiles

We use traces of user behavior in four BitTorrent sites3 for our analyses: Alluvion, Bitsoup, Etree, and Filelist.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Location traces of user are collected using vehicles equipped with GPS device.

Journal of Big Data

But for this ornament, and a copy of The Hound of the Baskervilles which lay beside it, the room showed no traces of human use… The rest of the book is Undine's flight from this damask prison.

The New Yorker

Traces of samples used for mecamylamine experiments are marked using blue, green, red dots, whereas, those for or picrotoxin are marked using black, grey, orange dots.

eLife

The presence of copper before adsorption arose from the copper grid used during the analysis, other elements may arise from the traces of additives used during the analysis.

Applied Water Science

The drugs smelled odd, thanks to traces of chemicals used to treat wood.

The Economist

The Itar-Tass news agency reported that investigators had found traces of explosives used in the airport bombing on the hands of Yevloyev's arrested brother.

The Guardian

The forensic report confirmed metastatic lesions in the skeleton corresponding to prostate cancer and traces of medication used at the time to treat it.

The New York Times

Dogs now sniff out bombs, sarin, land mines, illegal drugs and other contraband, as well as money, firearms, traces of gasoline used in arson, underground gas and water leaks and termites.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing antiques or historical artifacts, use "traces of use" to add authenticity and a sense of history to your descriptions.

Common error

Be careful not to automatically equate "traces of use" with damage or defect. It simply indicates that an item has been used and may have minor wear, which can sometimes add to its character.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "traces of use" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often used as an object or complement in a sentence. It describes tangible evidence or indications that something has been used previously. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "traces of use" is a grammatically sound noun phrase employed to depict the physical evidence of prior utilization. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While versatile, it finds frequent application in news, scientific, and wiki contexts. Synonymous options like "signs of wear" or "indications of usage" offer nuanced alternatives. When using the phrase, remember that it denotes prior use rather than inherent damage, thereby enriching descriptions with authenticity and history.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

signs of wear

Focuses on the physical condition resulting from use, rather than just evidence.

indications of usage

More formal and emphasizes the act of using something.

evidence of employment

Emphasizes that something has been put to service or work.

remnants of utilization

A more technical and less common way to express the same idea.

marks of application

Highlights the result of applying something to a specific purpose.

vestiges of handling

Focuses on the physical interaction with something.

clues of past activity

Broader, encompassing any kind of activity, not just use.

remains of service

Implies a more formal or structured context of use.

footprints of prior use

Offers a more metaphorical take on the evidence left behind.

echoes of previous application

More evocative, suggesting lingering effects of the use.

FAQs

How can I use "traces of use" in a sentence?

You can use "traces of use" to describe the wear and tear on an object, such as: "The antique desk showed "traces of use", indicating its long history".

What are some synonyms for "traces of use"?

Alternatives include "signs of wear", "indications of usage", or "evidence of employment", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "traces of use" or "signs of use"?

Both "traces of use" and "signs of use" are acceptable, but "traces of use" might subtly imply a more historical or prolonged period of use.

In what contexts is "traces of use" commonly used?

"Traces of use" is often found in descriptions of antiques, historical artifacts, or well-loved items, adding a sense of history and character.