With his face

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Bassim

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Would you please correct my mistakes in the following sentences? I am wondering which of these two sentences sounds better.

1. With his face of a brute, the lawyer could have passed as a criminal without his court dress.
2. With his face of a brute, and without his court dress, the lawyer could have passed as a criminal.
 

bhaisahab

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emsr2d2

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I agree that 2 is OK but I don't like "With his face of a brute". I would say "With his brutish face".
 

MikeNewYork

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Or "with the face of a brute".
 

Rover_KE

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I'd prefer 'robe' to 'dress'.
 

MikeNewYork

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That wouldn't work in AmE. Lawyers don't wear robes.
 

tedmc

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Is it "passed as a criminal" or "passed off as a criminal"?
 

GoesStation

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Is it "passed as a criminal" or "passed off as a criminal"?

Passed as a criminal in that phrase. Pass off is what someone does with someone or something else.
 

tedmc

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Ok, like an impersonator.
In this case, the resemblance is unintentional.
 

emsr2d2

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If it's unintentional, then "he could be mistaken for a lawyer".
 
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