Is it correct to use "dim" for sound?

[alpacinou]

Is it correct to use "dim" for sound?

I could hear the dim screeching of crows wafting from that old house in the distance.

 

[emsr2d2]

"Dim" and "screech" don't really go together. Cows don't screech (unless they're at an abattoir). They moo or low.

Edit: I misread the original and thought it said "cows", not "crows". I'll leave my response here, if for nothing other than amusement value.

 

[5jj]

Crows.

 

[alpacinou]

"Dim" and "screech" don't really go together. Cows don't screech (unless they're at an abattoir). They moo or low.

For a second, I was like, did emsrd2d2 just say crows moo? Something is wrong. But then I realized you have misread the post. You don't make mistakes in English.

I used "dim" because the sound is coming from the distant. Generally, can I use dim for a faint, distant sound?

 

[emsr2d2]

Sorry!!!! That'll teach me to try and use the forum on my phone!

 

[alpacinou]

Sorry!!!! That'll teach me to try and use the forum on my phone!

You have nothing to be sorry for. You have contributed so much that these small mistakes are dim in comparison.

 

[alpacinou]

Okay what about this?

I could hear the dim squawking of crows wafting from inside that old house in the distance.
I want to convey the sound is dim because of the distance not because of the nature of the sound itself.

 

[Rover_KE]

Sounds from far away are best described as faint or distant rather than dim.

 

[Tarheel]

For a second, I was like, did emsrd2d2 just say crows moo? Something is wrong. But then I realized you have misread the post. You don't make mistakes in English.

I used "dim" because the sound is coming from a distance. Generally, can I use dim for a faint, distant sound?

I wouldn't use "dim" for a sound.

 

[alpacinou]

Sounds from far away are best described as faint or distant rather than dim.

Is this okay?

I could hear the faint squawking of crows wafting from inside that old house in the distance.

 

[jutfrank]

Crows don't really squawk, they caw. I think that's the sound you're imagining.

And I don't think sounds waft.

 

[tedmc]

What about "sounds grow fainter"? Do sounds fade?

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, sounds can definitely be faint though I'm not too keen on grow fainter since the two words seem to be going in opposite directions.

And yes, they can fade. They also fade in and fade out.

 

[tedmc]

Yes, sounds can definitely be faint though I'm not too keen on grow fainter since the two words seem to be going in opposite directions.

And yes, they can fade. They also fade in and fade out.

Sounds become fainter then. I think the comparative would be better to describe a progressive change.

 

[alpacinou]

Crows don't really squawk, they caw. I think that's the sound you're imagining.

And I don't think sounds waft.

Okay, what about this?

I could hear the faint cawing of crows drifting from inside that old house in the distance.

 

[tedmc]

Okay, what about this?

I could hear the faint cawing of crows drifting from inside that old house in the distance.

Sound doesn't drift. I would omit "drifting".

 

[alpacinou]

For the sake of practice, I want to use a verb in the sentence. Since "waft" and "drift" do not work, what verb can I put in this sentence?

I could hear the faint cawing of crows drifting from inside that old house in the distance.

 

[tedmc]

How about "emanating"?

 

[Tarheel]

Perhaps:

I could hear the sounds of crows cawing coming from the old house in the distance.

You can use "faint" there if you wish, but I think "in the distance" takes care of that.

There were crows in the house?