a collective thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a collective thing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that is shared or done by a group of people rather than an individual. Example: "The success of the project was truly a collective thing, as everyone contributed their unique skills and efforts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

It is a collective thing.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's a collective thing".

The New York Times - Sports

It is of necessity a collective thing.

The New York Times

"It's a collective thing with a bunch of people involved, from Jason to Rod Thorn".

The New York Times - Sports

It was a collective thing – the players and the manager were not performing".

The Guardian - Sport

"Mo's struggles are a little less than some of our guys and a little more than one or two of our guys, but it's been a collective thing," Valentine said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

It's a very collective thing and if you're not all singing from the same hymn sheet it can be very hard to defend.

BBC

I see images in my mind, I'm not entirely sure where they come from, visions from my childhood or something older and deeper, more of a collective unconscious thing I suppose.

Huffington Post

By contrast Invisible Borders Trans-African Photography Project is the real shoulder-to-shoulder collective thing.

The New York Times - Arts

"It's crazy how this collective thing happens," said Michael Nash, fashion director of Vibe magazine.

The New York Times - Style

Scott McCaughey of Seattle's underground pop stalwarts the Young Fresh Fellows has been onto the now-trendy "pop collective" thing since 1993.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a collective thing", ensure the context clearly indicates the group involved and the shared aspect being emphasized.

Common error

Avoid using "a collective thing" when describing accomplishments primarily driven by individuals. Reserve it for situations where group participation is genuinely significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a collective thing" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or an object in a sentence. It identifies something as belonging to or involving a group, as Ludwig examples show.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a collective thing" is a phrase used to emphasize the shared or group-oriented nature of something, as supported by Ludwig AI. It functions as a noun phrase and serves to highlight that an activity, responsibility, or characteristic involves multiple individuals rather than just one. While grammatically correct and frequently used in news and media contexts, it maintains a neutral to informal register. When writing, ensure the context clearly indicates the group involved and the shared aspect being emphasized. While there are some other alternative phrases, use "a collective thing" when is really pertinent to stress the importance of the contribution from all members of a group.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a shared endeavor

Emphasizes the joint effort and participation in an undertaking.

a communal effort

Highlights the community aspect and shared resources in the effort.

a group undertaking

Focuses on the group aspect and the action of taking on a task.

a joint responsibility

Stresses the shared accountability and obligation.

a team effort

Highlights the collaborative nature and the involvement of a team.

a collaborative project

Emphasizes the cooperative aspect of the work.

a common endeavor

Underscores the shared nature and purpose of the undertaking.

a unified action

Highlights the coordinated and singular nature of the action.

a concerted effort

Stresses the planned and purposeful nature of the effort.

a synergistic activity

Highlights the combined effect being greater than the sum of individual efforts.

FAQs

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

You can use "a collective thing" to describe an effort, responsibility, or characteristic shared by a group. For example, "The project's success was a collective thing, reflecting everyone's hard work".

What are some alternatives to "a collective thing"?

You can use alternatives like "a shared endeavor", "a communal effort", or "a team effort" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "collective effort" or "a collective thing"?

"Collective effort" is generally more concise and direct, but "a collective thing" can be useful when you want to emphasize the shared nature of something beyond just effort. It depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean when something is described as "a collective thing"?

It means that the thing being described is not individual or isolated, but rather something that involves or is shared by a group of people. It implies shared responsibility, participation, or ownership.