which belies

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which belies" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is being contradicted or misrepresented by another thing, often in a context where the truth is hidden or obscured. Example: "Her cheerful demeanor, which belies her inner struggles, surprised everyone at the party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Rev. 3 9 You keep promoting sin, which belies the ugly truth".

The New Yorker

All of which belies the gunfight itself, which wasn't that big a deal, after all.

The New York Times

The industry operates with a brazenness which belies the fact that much of it is illegal.

The Guardian - Travel

But it's the vestige of an old vaudeville stratagem: a show of interest which belies selfinvolvement.

The New Yorker

A richly diverse place, there is a surprising degree of racial segregation which belies its inclusive reputation.

University of California, Berkeley

Switzer's huge golden lab, Marlowe, greeted me with his usual blood-curdling bark and menacing growl, which belies his harmlessness.

The New York Times - Sports

But Leavitt's old-school, intense demeanor, which belies his youthful looks and spiky hair, has helped him build a powerhouse.

The New York Times

And they do whizz by, at 24 frames per second, which belies how painstakingly each of them was perfected.

The Guardian - Opinion

Of the few current applications, most have been developed by statistical experimentation which belies an understanding at the interface between food science and process engineering.

Powder Technology

Like a simplified view of the atom, which belies the churning complexity within, most people see the internet as a plug that connects to a digital cloud.

The Economist

Cashman acknowledges the contradiction of his tenure, which belies the claim that he does not yet know what he wants to do when he grows up.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure clarity by placing "which belies" close to the elements being contrasted. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the connection between the stated fact and the underlying truth.

Common error

Avoid using "which belies" when a simple contradiction is intended. The phrase implies a hidden or obscured truth, not just a direct opposition. If there is no hidden truth to reveal, a more straightforward term like "contradicts" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which belies" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun phrase and adding information that contrasts an apparent quality with a hidden reality. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

15%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which belies" is a relative clause used to indicate that something contradicts or misrepresents an underlying truth. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and frequently used across various contexts. Primarily found in news and media, it also appears in academic and scientific writing. Using "which belies" effectively involves highlighting contrasts between appearance and reality, adding depth to writing, but care should be taken to avoid misusing it when a simple contradiction is intended. Alternatives include "that contradicts" or "that masks", depending on the nuance desired. Ludwig's examples show how this phrase enhances descriptive writing by revealing hidden complexities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that contradicts

Replaces "belies" with a more direct term for contradiction, losing some of the nuance of hidden meaning.

that contradicts

Replaces "belies" with a more direct term for contradiction, making the statement more straightforward.

that masks

Focuses on the idea of something concealing the truth, rather than directly contradicting it.

that conceals

Similar to "masks", but suggests a more deliberate attempt to hide the underlying reality.

that disguises

Suggests a deliberate alteration of appearance to hide the true nature of something.

which is at odds with

This alternative emphasizes the conflict or incompatibility between two things.

that gives a false impression of

Highlights the misleading nature of something, implying a deception.

that runs counter to

Implies a fundamental opposition or disagreement with something else.

that undermines

Suggests that something weakens or diminishes the effect of another thing.

that is contrary to

Expresses direct opposition or contradiction, similar to "contradicts" but more formal.

FAQs

How to use "which belies" in a sentence?

Use "which belies" to indicate a contrast between an apparent truth and a hidden reality. For example, "His cheerful demeanor, "which belies" his inner struggles, surprised everyone."

What can I say instead of "which belies"?

You can use alternatives like "that contradicts", "that masks", or "that conceals" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "that belies" instead of "which belies"?

While "which belies" is grammatically correct in nonrestrictive clauses, "that belies" can be used in restrictive clauses. The choice depends on whether the clause is essential to the sentence's meaning.

What's the difference between "which belies" and "which contradicts"?

"Which belies" suggests a subtle or hidden contradiction, often implying that the apparent truth conceals a deeper reality. "Which contradicts" is more direct and simply indicates a conflict between two statements or facts.