use smell

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "use smell" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to employ or rely on one's sense of smell. You can use this phrase when discussing the act of using one's sense of smell to identify or detect something. Example: "When cooking, it's important to use smell to determine if the food is properly seasoned."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

This study offers a new possibility: a way to use smell as a more objective marker of potential disorder.

The New Yorker

For example, dogs use smell for hunting, and, consequently, they have many more olfactory receptors than humans do and are thousands of times more sensitive to various odours.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They are visual predators in open areas, but they mostly use smell and hearing to locate prey in thick vegetation or forest.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The main reasons given for the positive assessment were better skin feeling after use, smell and easier donning of the surgical gloves.

Journal of Hospital Infection

But several recent studies show that birds use smell to help them forage for food, communicate with other birds, and even orient themselves in flight.

Science Magazine

Others have put forward different ideas for how pigeons find their way, suggesting that the birds use smell, visual clues or the Earth's magnetic field, or even a combination of all of these.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Directions for use: "Smell-rhapsodize-repeat". Brand Innovator and Occasional Blogger on Various and Sundry.

Huffington Post

If someone was unconscious due to heat stroke or heat syncope, participants described how they would use "smelling onions" or "alcohol" to help reawaken the afflicted person.

BMC Public Health

If you wish, then it can be added but be careful- do not use smells that are too overpowering as this puts people off.

WikiHow

The birds may be using smell to detect relatives and avoid inbreeding, Dr. Krause said.

The New York Times - Science

Balka also uses smell and sound, and different qualities of silence, and nowadays frequently incorporates film into his installations.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing how animals find food or navigate, "use smell" is a straightforward way to explain their reliance on their olfactory senses.

Common error

While "use smell" is perfectly understandable, in formal or scientific writing, consider alternatives like "employ olfaction" or "utilize scent" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "use smell" functions as a verb + noun construction, where "use" acts as a transitive verb indicating the act of employing something and "smell" is the noun representing the sense being utilized. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it serves to describe the action of utilizing one's sense of smell.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Wiki

30%

News & Media

27%

Science

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0.03%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "use smell" is grammatically sound and frequently employed across various contexts, as affirmed by Ludwig. It serves to describe the act of utilizing one's sense of smell for diverse purposes. While generally informal, more sophisticated alternatives like "employ olfaction" or "utilize scent" may be preferable in formal or scientific settings. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and offers numerous examples of its application in real-world scenarios, solidifying its place as a valid and useful phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make use of smell

Adds "make use of" for emphasis, making it a slightly longer and more formal version of "use smell".

apply the sense of smell

Emphasizes the application of the sense of smell as a deliberate action.

utilize scent

Substitutes "smell" with "scent" offering a slightly more refined tone while keeping the verb "utilize" in place of "use".

employ olfaction

Replaces "use smell" with a more technical term, "olfaction", referring to the sense of smell.

leverage olfaction

Similar to "employ olfaction" but uses "leverage", implying an advantageous use of the sense of smell.

detect by scent

Emphasizes the action of detection rather than the act of using the sense; it changes smell to scent.

exploit the sense of smell

Replaces "use" with "exploit", suggesting a strategic or resourceful employment of the sense of smell.

perceive via olfaction

Focuses on the act of perceiving through smell, using the formal term "olfaction".

rely on fragrance

Shifts the focus to "fragrance", implying a reliance on pleasant smells, rather than just any smell.

discern through aroma

Offers a more sophisticated way of saying "use smell", highlighting the act of discerning using "aroma".

FAQs

How can I /s/employ+olfaction in scientific writing?

In scientific contexts, you can "employ olfaction" to describe the process of using the sense of smell for detection, identification, or navigation. It's a formal way to refer to the sense of smell.

What is a more formal way to say "use smell"?

Alternatives to "use smell" include "employ olfaction", "utilize scent", or "apply the sense of smell". These options provide a more sophisticated tone, suitable for formal or scientific contexts.

When is it appropriate to say "use smell"?

The phrase "use smell" is appropriate in general contexts. For instance when providing cooking instructions, describing animal behaviors, or when referring to the subjective experience of sensing smells. In professional or academic writing, using more formal terms like "employ olfaction" can make your writing sound more refined.

Can "smell" be interchanged with "scent" when talking about using one's sense of smell?

While "smell" and "scent" both refer to the olfactory sense, "scent" often implies a pleasant or distinct smell, while "smell" can be neutral or even negative. In the context of "use smell", you could consider using "utilize scent" if you're specifically referring to employing pleasant smells.