Numb in/with fear
Hi
Please help me with this:
While the expression numb with fear seems to the common usage, is it incorrect to say numb in fear?
Top answer
In isolation of its context, ”numb in fear” seems oddly archaic to me, although it is perfectly comprehensible. ” and some further explanation. ” you would get away with; it is fine, but you would need the comma.
- In isolation of its context, ”numb in fear” seems oddly archaic to me, although it is perfectly comprehensible.
- ” and some further explanation.
- ” you would get away with; it is fine, but you would need the comma.
- ” reads more easily as the fear is more fully explained.
- ” stands on its own and is easily understood to mean fear of something was causing the numbness.
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In isolation of its context, ”numb in fear” seems oddly archaic to me, although it is perfectly comprehensible. The problem is that readers will normally expect the stock phrase “in fear of...” and some further explanation.
The sentence “He was left numb, in fear.” you would get away with; it is fine, but you would need the comma. However, “He was left numb, in fear of his life.” reads m
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