a barracks

USAGE SUMMARY

"a barracks" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It refers to a large building that houses soldiers in the military. Example: The soldiers marched back to their barracks after a long day of training.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She fled underneath a barracks.

The New Yorker

Virtually overnight the Capitol became a barracks.

The New York Times

A G.I. party is a barracks cleaning.

The New Yorker

Was this a barracks brawl, or something much bigger?

The Guardian

"They entered into a barracks where unarmed soldiers were," Brig.

The New York Times

He is in a barracks, shared with about 20 others.

The Guardian - Film

This was a barracks for foreign members of the Taliban.

The New York Times

His sparring partners are living in a barracks.

The New York Times - Sports

Schoellkopf Hall, adjacent to the former Alumni Field, initially served as a barracks.

Cornell University

Despite its ravished condition, Nassau Hall served its country as a barracks, hospital, and military prison.

Princeton University

(Conveniently, a New York State Police troop had a barracks in Wallkill).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific military installation, use "a barracks" to refer to one building within the larger complex. For instance, "The new recruits were assigned to a barracks on the east side of the base."

Common error

Avoid using "barracks" as a singular noun with a singular article if you mean more than one building. While "barracks" looks plural, it is also the correct singular form, so use "a barracks" for one building and "barracks" (without 'a') for multiple.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a barracks" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig shows it describes a building or complex of buildings used to house military personnel.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

19%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Reference

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a barracks" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase that refers to a building used to house military personnel. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage spans various contexts, most notably in News & Media, Wikipedia and Academia, indicating broad applicability. It's important to use the correct singular form, "a barracks", even though it appears plural. The term has a neutral register, and while alternatives like "soldiers' quarters" or "military housing" exist, "a barracks" remains a standard and widely understood term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

military housing

Refers to housing specifically for military personnel, broader than a single building.

army lodging

Specifies lodging provided by the army.

soldiers' quarters

Highlights the accommodation for soldiers.

military base accommodation

Emphasizes the accommodation aspect within a military base.

dormitory for troops

Highlights the dormitory style of accommodation for troops.

garrison building

Focuses on the building within a garrison context.

camp residence

Refers to a residence within a military camp.

enlisted men's hall

Specifically refers to a hall for enlisted men.

troop housing

A general term for housing provided to troops.

naval lodging

Specifies lodging provided by the navy.

FAQs

How is "a barracks" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "a barracks" usually functions as a noun phrase, referring to a specific building used for housing soldiers. For example, "The soldiers returned to "a barracks" after their training exercise."

What is the difference between "a barracks" and "a base"?

"A base" is a broader term referring to a military installation that can include many different buildings, including living quarters, training facilities, and administrative offices. "A barracks" specifically refers to "military housing".

Which is correct, "a barracks" or "a barrack"?

"A barracks" is the correct singular form, even though it looks plural. "Barrack" can be used as a noun or a verb, but not typically with the indefinite article 'a' to mean the same as barracks.

What can I say instead of "a barracks"?

Depending on the specific context, you could use alternatives like "soldiers' quarters", ""military housing"", or "troop housing" to describe the same concept.