a collective gift

USAGE SUMMARY

"a collective gift" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in a situation where a group of people is deciding to get someone a gift together. For example, "The class decided to get their teacher a collective gift for her retirement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

$1 M as a collective gift over 5 years is just too insignificant for this group".

The New Yorker

A better idea is to give a collective gift with other co-workers.

The New York Times

The broadcasters leverage government-granted licenses – a collective gift worth uncounted billions of dollars – to extract vast sums from advertisers and non-broadcast distributors of their content, in a system that offers little or no accountability to the public.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Humanitarian values are underlined with activities like the penny harvest -- campers chip in coins from their piggy banks and then co-operatively choose a charity to receive their collective gift.

The New York Times - Travel

For the collective gift, you won't find something nicer than the Geneva XS Portable Music Player for $299.95.

Huffington Post

My thought as I observed this majestic sight was this: If we are to thrive as a society, we must come together and pool our collective gifts to create an atmosphere of peace and collaboration.

Huffington Post

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: Correction: March 10, 2011 An article on Monday about the end of plans for a merger of Smile Train and Operation Smile, two nonprofit groups that work to treat cleft palates and lips, misstated the collective gifts of donors who signed an online petition opposing the deal.

The New York Times

So why hasn't that gift prompted a collective response to the crisis?

The New York Times

To condescend to Bush, to affect a collective sneer, would be a gift to the Republicans; and — a lesson learned from Conventions past — it is easier to decry divisiveness when you aren't displaying it.

The New Yorker

Mr. Collier and a crew of six jammed themselves onto 1 and 9 trains with a prodigious amount of equipment, a bunch of art supplies and a blank stretched canvas, asking ordinary riders to contribute their artistic gifts to make a collective subway painting.

The New York Times

Instead, it's time to shift our approach to the planet and our relationship to it, as we explore the most important question of our time: How do we each, as individuals of a collective whole called humanity, bring our gifts to the table to be a part of the solution?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a gift from a group, ensure the context clearly indicates the shared intention and contribution of multiple individuals. Use "a collective gift" to highlight the unified effort.

Common error

Avoid using "a collective gift" when describing individual contributions to a larger cause; instead, emphasize the individual actions before combining them into a collective outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a collective gift" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a sentence. It describes something tangible or intangible (the gift) provided by a group (collective). Ludwig AI shows this phrase used to represent a gift sourced from group effort.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a collective gift" is a noun phrase used to describe a gift provided by a group, emphasizing their shared contribution. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and versatile, fitting into both neutral and professional settings. While not overly frequent in general usage, the phrase appears in reputable news and media sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. Related phrases include "a joint present" and "a group present". When using the phrase, ensure that the context emphasizes the shared intention and contribution of multiple individuals. Avoid using it when describing individual contributions to a larger cause, instead emphasizing the individual actions before combining them into a collective outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a joint present

Uses 'joint' to denote the shared nature, which is a more direct synonym for collective.

a combined present

Focuses on the act of combining individual contributions.

a group present

Focuses on the 'group' aspect providing the gift, rather than the collaborative nature of its creation.

a pooled gift

Emphasizes the pooling of resources to acquire the gift.

a shared offering

Emphasizes the act of 'offering' something together, which can be money, time, or resources.

a communal contribution

Highlights the 'communal' aspect, suggesting a shared responsibility or benefit from the contribution.

a collaborative donation

Focuses on the 'donation' aspect of the gift, often implying a charitable cause.

a team gift

More suited for workplace or team-related scenarios.

an aggregate present

More formal and less common than "a collective gift".

a society gift

Relates to gifts within a society or community.

FAQs

How can I use "a collective gift" in a sentence?

You can use "a collective gift" to describe a gift given by a group of people. For example, "The team presented their manager with "a collective gift" to show their appreciation."

What are some alternatives to "a collective gift"?

Alternatives include "a joint present", "a group present", or "a shared offering", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "a collective gift" in a formal setting?

Yes, "a collective gift" is appropriate in formal settings, as it accurately describes a gift given by a group. However, consider the specific context and choose the most suitable synonym if necessary.

What is the difference between "a collective gift" and individual gifts?

"A collective gift" implies that the gift is given by a group, whereas individual gifts are given separately by individual people. The key difference is the shared contribution.