void of color

USAGE SUMMARY

"void of color" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in a sentence like this: "The sky was void of color, washed out by the misting rain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

She underscored her point by repeating it as she stood outside her stone house, which was void of color.

The New York Times

He was a part of the avant-garde Nul movement, the Dutch branch of the Zero movement, which reacted to the Abstract Expressionists by arguing that art should be void of color, emotion and individual expression.

The New York Times - Arts

And subsequently when you move to East Germany, there is a total void of color.

Los Angeles Times

Organizations like GLAAD, OUT Magazine, and The Advocate are noticeably void of color.

Huffington Post

For the sharecroppers, I wanted it to be a little void of color, very natural and organic and lots of white.

Los Angeles Times

One of the most colorful moments in one's life is their wedding, so why have we made it tradition since the 19th century, to have it void of color!? Choreographers: Krista and Kelvin Ramirez.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Ahn plans to continue creating work with queer Koreans at the center, not only because the LGBT film genre is largely void of people of color.

Los Angeles Times

But in Mr. Baldessari's work, he often takes the recognizable and mundane, like a black-and-white movie still, and renders it anonymous and sublime, the stars' faces voided by giant circles of color.

The New York Times - Style

Much of the exhibit is scenes of factories, smokestacks and urban landscapes void of humans, movement and color.

TechCrunch

Any report of difficulty in voiding led to cystoscopy.

British Journal of Cancer

The works play up the void of outer space, sometimes with shocks of color, other times in marbled grayscale.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "void of color" when you want to emphasize a stark absence of color, often to create a specific mood or effect. It's stronger than simply saying something is "colorless".

Common error

Don't use "void of color" when "lacking color" or "without color" suffices. "Void of color" implies a deliberate and complete absence, creating a visual or emotional impact. If you only mean something doesn't have much color, other phrases are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "void of color" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a complete absence of color. It emphasizes the lack of chromatic elements in a subject, creating a distinct visual or emotional effect. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which show the phrase describing landscapes, objects, and even abstract concepts like organizations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "void of color" is a grammatically correct and relatively uncommon expression used to emphasize the complete absence of color. Ludwig indicates that it appears in various contexts, including news, science, and academic writing, with a neutral to formal register. While alternatives like "colorless" or "lacking color" exist, "void of color" often suggests a deliberate or striking absence that contributes to a particular mood or effect. When writing, consider the specific impact you want to create to ensure that "void of color" accurately conveys your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

devoid of color

Synonymous, using a more formal vocabulary.

colorless

A single word replacement emphasizing the absence of color.

lacking color

Directly states the absence of color, similar in meaning.

without color

A straightforward alternative emphasizing the absence of color.

achromatic

A technical term for the absence of color.

monochromatic

Implies a single color or shades of a single color, instead of no color at all. It's more specific.

grayscale

Specifically refers to shades of gray, black, and white, indicating an absence of vibrant colors.

desaturated

Refers to a reduction in color intensity.

pale

Suggests a weak presence of color, rather than complete absence.

muted

Suggests subdued or softened color, not necessarily absent.

FAQs

How can I use "void of color" in a sentence?

You can use "void of color" to describe a scene, object, or even an emotion. For instance, "The landscape was void of color under the heavy fog" or "Her face was void of color after hearing the news".

What's a more formal way to say "void of color"?

A more formal alternative to "void of color" is "devoid of color". Both phrases carry a similar meaning, but "devoid" is often used in more sophisticated writing.

Is it better to say "void of color" or "colorless"?

The choice between "void of color" and "colorless" depends on the context. "Void of color" often implies a deliberate absence or a striking lack, whereas "colorless" is a more neutral description.

What are some related concepts to being "void of color"?

Related concepts include "monochromatic" (having only one color), "desaturated" (having reduced color intensity), and "achromatic" (lacking color). However, each carries a slightly different nuance.