vignette

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "vignette" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use "vignette" as a noun meaning a short piece of writing or a short entertaining episode. For example: "The author created a beautiful vignette of the idyllic country life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Memory is a strange and unreliable thing, shaped often by a vignette, captured in a scent, a sound, a shard of emotion rather than factual detail.

The Guardian - Opinion

Our director's masterstroke for Merchant was a mime sequence to open the play - Bassanio striding on to gaze at Portia's portrait, Shylock jangling a money pouch from a balcony window, Antonio scanning the horizon with a telescope for his fleet of ships - each character miming a silent vignette of their forthcoming journey through the play, all to a tape of olde worlde crumhorn music.

The Guardian

­Another vignette finds him wandering past the hospital where "she willed her body to medical science", musing to himself: "that's where my dead wife lives.

The Guardian - Books

In the film, there is a killingly funny vignette in which Joshua McGuire's Ruskin, who cannot pronounce his Rs, purrs with self-satisfaction at his own ideas – the critic who got the cream.

The Guardian - Film

"Yet all you tried to do is provide water".Known in the military world as "M4" (from his surname and the number of stars he wears), the general offered this vignette to an audience of defence experts in London this month as he set out the "serious" risk of failure.

The Economist

But if one of them happened to wander cutely into a drinks party…Charlie decided not to write up this vignette immediately Cormack would go berserk.

The Economist

Gordon Brown eventually squeezed in between José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of Spain and Italy's Silvio Berlusconi.It was a vignette that captured the current pitch of Britain's foreign policy.

The Economist

They can, particularly those who have the metalinguistic knowledge to minimise the unusual features of their own dialects and consciously use widely-used phrasings.Here is a typical vignette regarding teenagers who have not yet mastered these strategies.

The Economist

A particularly poignant vignette, from hungry Naples, is of an Italian aristocrat asking with great politeness if his sister could secure a place in a British military brothel.History buffs may quibble at Mr Buruma's heavy use of secondary sources, whereas other authors (such as Anne Applebaum in her account of the post-war years, "Iron Curtain") have scoured the archives.

The Economist

Each chapter is dedicated to a category of risk from sex to extreme sport and opens with a short and often amusing vignette featuring Prudence, Kelvin or Norm.

The Economist

"What an elitist loon".This vignette captures rather well the secret of Mrs Palin's appeal.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "vignette" when you want to capture a specific moment or feeling without needing a full narrative arc.

Common error

Avoid using "vignette" when a complete story or comprehensive explanation is required. A "vignette" is a brief, impressionistic scene, not a fully developed narrative.

Linguistic Context

The word "vignette" primarily functions as a noun, referring to a short, descriptive scene or moment that captures a particular mood or impression. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct. Examples found in Ludwig highlight its usage in literature, film, and personal anecdotes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Encyclopedias

7%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vignette" is a grammatically sound noun commonly used to describe a short, descriptive scene or episode. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely accepted and correct for use in written English. Its frequency is high, particularly in News & Media sources, and serves the purpose of evoking specific feelings or providing quick glimpses into various scenarios. When employing "vignette", remember that it's best suited for capturing brief moments rather than comprehensive narratives, and remember to avoid confusion with its homophone "vinette"!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

short scene

Focuses on the brevity and visual nature of the depiction.

brief episode

Emphasizes the conciseness and self-contained nature of the event.

short narrative

Highlights the storytelling aspect in a concise form.

snapshot

Implies a quick, fleeting glimpse or impression.

brief account

Underscores the summarization and factual representation.

miniature portrayal

Stresses the small scale and detailed representation.

succinct depiction

Highlights the clarity and conciseness of the representation.

quick sketch

Suggests a rough, rapidly created portrayal.

small illustration

Focuses on the illustrative purpose and small scale.

brief glimpse

Emphasizes the fleeting and incomplete nature of the view.

FAQs

How can I use "vignette" in a sentence?

You can use "vignette" to describe a short, descriptive scene or moment, as in "The novel opens with a touching "vignette" of childhood innocence".

What's a good alternative to "vignette"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "short scene", "brief episode", or "snapshot" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to use "vignette" to describe a long, detailed story?

No, "vignette" refers to a brief, impressionistic scene or moment. It is not appropriate for describing lengthy or detailed narratives.

What is the difference between a "vignette" and a scene?

While both describe a moment in time, a "vignette" is typically shorter, more focused on atmosphere and impression, and less concerned with plot development than a standard scene.