without any sign of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without any sign of" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate the absence of evidence or indication of something. Example: "She left the house without any sign of hesitation." Alternative expressions include "lacking any indication of" and "devoid of any sign of."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Mr Solomon would be the first executive to be targeted without any sign of personal misconduct.

The Economist

The singing is warm and temperate, emotionally expressive without any sign of strain.

The New York Times - Arts

Later, Barnard wrote of that crucial moment: "The heart lay paralysed, without any sign of life.

The Guardian

Distinction, therefore, must be made between infection and disease, the former occurring on occasion without any sign of the latter.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One thing, however, is for certain: The crossings involving fatalities have continued without any sign of abatement.

The New York Times

Though he played the two roles without any sign of camp, he revealed a deft Cary Grant-inspired comic timing.

The Guardian

On Friday afternoon, the record-breaking sale to Blackstone was completed without any sign of a lawsuit.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, the two Express titles are leaking copies without any sign of a turnaround in their fortunes.

The Guardian

The nominal voltages were successfully applied without any sign of discharges.

Earth, Planets and Space

He said SpaceShipTwo's fuel tanks and engine were found intact, without any sign of being breached.

BBC

Only the triazene-polymer reveals etching without any sign of surface swelling, which is observed for all other polymers.

Applied Surface Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "without any sign of", ensure that the context clearly establishes what type of sign or indication would be expected if the condition or event were present.

Common error

Avoid using "without any sign of" in overly complex sentences where simpler phrasing would improve clarity. Sometimes a more direct negative statement is more effective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without any sign of" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating the absence of a particular indication or symptom. It helps to negate an expected or potential observation. As Ludwig AI suggests, this construction is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "without any sign of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that indicates the absence of a particular indication or symptom. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's versatile across different contexts, particularly in science, news, and business. While alternatives like "lacking any indication of" exist, "without any sign of" remains a clear and effective way to express a negative observation. When using it, ensure the context clarifies what "sign" is expected and avoid overuse in overly complex sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lacking any indication of

Replaces "without any sign of" to emphasize the absence of an indication.

devoid of any indication of

Substitutes "without any sign of" to highlight a complete lack of evidence.

absent any evidence of

Uses "absent" instead of "without" and "evidence" instead of "sign", focusing on the lack of proof.

showing no evidence of

Changes the structure to an active form, emphasizing that there is no evidence being shown.

displaying no indication of

Replaces "sign" with "indication" and uses "displaying" to describe the absence.

revealing no trace of

Emphasizes that there is no trace or hint of something.

with no hint of

Uses "hint" instead of "sign", suggesting a subtle lack of indication.

not showing any symptoms of

Focuses on the absence of symptoms as a sign.

no evidence suggests

Inverts the structure to highlight that evidence is the subject.

failing to indicate

Emphasizes a failure to provide any indication or sign.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "without any sign of" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "lacking any indication of", "devoid of any indication of", or "absent any evidence of".

Is there a difference between "without any sign of" and "without any trace of"?

While similar, "without any sign of" generally refers to the absence of an indication or symptom, whereas "without any trace of" /s/without+any+trace+of emphasizes the complete disappearance or lack of remaining evidence.

What does it mean to say something happened "without any sign of" something else?

It means that there was no indication, symptom, or evidence that the "something else" was present or occurring. For example, "The surgery was completed without any sign of complications" indicates that there were no indications of complications during the procedure.

Can I use "without any sign of" in scientific writing?

Yes, "without any sign of" is suitable for scientific writing to describe the absence of specific indicators or results. Be precise about what "sign" you are referring to in your specific context.