a battery of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a battery of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a group of things that serve a common purpose, usually within a specific area. For example, "The company has a battery of lawyers who specialize in tax law."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A battery of Happy Rock drum machines.

The New York Times - Tech

"We have a battery of lawyers.

The New York Times

A battery of outcome measures was given.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

(They cite a battery of statistics to prove otherwise).

The Guardian - Books

"You have to ask a battery of questions," he said.

The New York Times

That first day, they gave us a battery of tests.

The New York Times

The Bulgarians also captured a battery of quick-firing guns.

The New York Times

Yet a battery of lung tests showed nothing wrong.

The New York Times

A battery of tests was conducted, but not for Ebola.

The Economist

A battery of tests revealed nothing physically wrong with him.

The New York Times - Sports

A battery of scans and tests was run.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a battery of" when you want to emphasize a comprehensive and often rigorous series of tests, questions, or measures. It implies a thorough approach.

Common error

Avoid using "a battery of" to refer to actual batteries unless that's the literal context. The phrase is usually figurative, referring to a collection of something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a battery of" functions as a determiner followed by a noun (e.g., "tests", "questions", "measures"), creating a noun phrase. It modifies the noun to indicate a comprehensive and often rigorous collection. Ludwig AI also confirms this by providing several examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

22%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a battery of" serves as a powerful way to denote a comprehensive and often rigorous collection of items or actions, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its usage spans across scientific research, news reporting, and formal business communications, emphasizing thoroughness. While interchangeable with terms like ""a series of"" or ""a range of"", "a battery of" carries a stronger connotation of intensity and systemization. Remember to use it figuratively, avoiding literal interpretations related to actual batteries, unless context dictates otherwise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a series of

This alternative replaces "battery" with "series", emphasizing the sequential nature of the items.

a collection of

This option is a straightforward and general way to refer to a group.

a range of

Using "range" suggests a variety within the collection, highlighting diversity.

an array of

"Array" implies an organized and impressive display or arrangement.

a set of

"Set" is a more general term, indicating a group of related items.

a suite of

"Suite" suggests a coordinated collection, often used in formal contexts.

a compilation of

"Compilation" indicates that the items have been gathered together from different sources.

a cluster of

"Cluster" emphasizes a close grouping or concentration of items.

a host of

"Host" implies a large number or multitude of items.

a spectrum of

Spectrum focuses on showing wide scope that lies between two extreme values or points

FAQs

How can I use "a battery of" in a sentence?

You can use "a battery of" to describe a comprehensive series of tests, measures, or questions. For example, "The doctors ran "a battery of tests" to determine the cause of her illness."

What's a good alternative to "a battery of"?

Alternatives include "a series of", "a range of", or "an array of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a battery of tests" or "many tests"?

"A battery of tests" suggests a more systematic and thorough investigation than simply saying "many tests". It implies a coordinated and comprehensive approach.

Can "a battery of" be used for things other than tests or questions?

Yes, while often used with "tests" or "questions", "a battery of" can apply to any comprehensive collection of related items or actions. For example, "a battery of measures" can be used to prevent something.