a certain group

USAGE SUMMARY

"a certain group" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you're referring to a specific group of people or things that have been previously mentioned or that you are about to mention. For example, "A certain group of students had been contesting the validity of the study."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Strain genotyping may contribute to a better understanding of BTB transmission and could lead to identification of outbreaks and tracking dissemination of particular strains, to explore relations between domestic and wild BTB, to improve bovine TB control strategies, or even to reconstruct the evolution of a certain group of bacteria [ 3, 5, 11, 12].

BioMed Research International

The model of logit regression has been used to estimate the probability that whether an individual belongs to a certain group (dependent =1), or not (independent = 0).

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

The overall prevalence of these disorders may be as high as 3 to 6 % and even higher in certain groups of women [1, 2, 3].

Insights into Imaging

A portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI or cox1) gene sequence is currently being used as a universal barcode in certain animal groups [1], [2], but mitochondrial genes are generally thought to lack promise for plants [3] [6], primarily because of their low nucleotide substitution rates (e.g., [7]).

Plosone

The analysis of DIF is a measurement bias and refers to differences in the probability of giving a certain response between groups [16, 18, 25, 30].

Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes

People aged 60 years and over in certain age groups (60, 66, 72, 78, 81, 84, 87, 90, 93, 96, 99 years) were recruited for an extensive examination, which included a physical examination and medical history by a physician.

Drugs and Aging

Significant differences were observed only between certain groups (750 600 and 750 1000) at day 11, however, no difference was observed between the groups after day 15.

Materials Letters

This pattern was observed for certain genes in groups 1a, 1b, 4a, 4b, 6a and 6b, but not for those in groups 1c, 1d, 2 and 3. Some of these vicinal genes may be co-regulated, based on the microarray data [24], and these gene clusters may thus comprise operons.

Plosone

In this paper, we give a recursive theorem that for all odd n>1 constructs Paley partial difference sets in certain groups of order n4 and 9n4.

Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series A

The chance of being allocated to a certain intervention group varied from 1/6 to 5/6 depending on initial SPADI [ 31] scores (stratifying for SPADI = 50 or SPADI > 50) and the number of patients already allocated to each intervention.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

A number of recent studies suggest that a SNP association could be specific to the genetic background of a certain ethnic group [ 22, 23].

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a certain group" when you want to refer to a specific group without explicitly naming it, often because the exact identity isn't important or is already understood by the audience.

Common error

Avoid using "a certain group" if the context requires more specificity. If the group's identity is crucial for understanding, provide a clear and direct reference instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain group" functions as a determiner phrase modifying the noun "group". It refers to an unspecified, but implicitly defined, collection of individuals or entities. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a certain group" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to refer to an unspecified collection of individuals or entities. According to Ludwig AI, its use is correct in written English. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for various contexts, and while it's essential to avoid overuse in situations demanding specificity, the phrase serves a valuable purpose in maintaining generality or avoiding redundancy. When more specificity is required, alternatives like "a specific group" or "a particular group" can provide clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A specific group

Emphasizes the particularity and definiteness of the group.

A particular group

Highlights the distinctiveness of the group under consideration.

A given group

Suggests the group has been previously specified or is assumed.

Some group

Indicates an unspecified but existing group.

A select group

Implies the group is carefully chosen or exclusive.

A defined group

Suggests the group has clear boundaries or criteria for membership.

A designated group

Highlights that the group was officially or formally appointed.

A known group

Implies the group is recognized or familiar within a certain context.

A respective group

Indicates each group is considered individually in relation to others.

A unique group

Highlights the distinctive and unparalleled nature of the group.

FAQs

How can I use "a certain group" in a sentence?

Use "a certain group" to refer to a particular set of individuals or items when the exact identity isn't essential or is already known in the context. For example, "A certain group of researchers conducted the study."

What's the difference between "a certain group" and "a specific group"?

"A certain group" implies a degree of vagueness or generality, while "a specific group" suggests a more defined or clearly identified set.

When should I avoid using "a certain group"?

Avoid using "a certain group" if the context requires precise identification of the group or if the vagueness could lead to confusion. In those cases, use a more descriptive term.

What are some alternatives to "a certain group"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "a particular group", "some group", or a more descriptive phrase that specifies the group's characteristics or identity.