a collective work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a collective work" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to a piece of work that is created collaboratively by a group of people. It can be used in various contexts, such as literature, art, or music. Example: The museum featured a special exhibit showcasing a collective work by local artists, each contributing their unique talents to create a stunning mosaic installation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

"Well, it's a collective work, so I don't".

The Guardian - Arts

But I often get into trouble because of the disparate elements within a collective work.

The New York Times - Arts

The creed is a collective work ethic and individual responsibility, the logic unarguable.

The Guardian - Sport

ERNEST RENAN, a 19th-century French philosopher, once famously observed that national identity requires a collective work of amnesia.

The Economist

Finally, mention must be made of L'Apport Freudien, a collective work under the direction of Pierre Kaufmann, offering a new approach to the principal concepts of psychoanalysis.

Encyclopedia Britannica

'RESISTANCE' A collective work by the Living Theater Company about Rocchetta Ligure, an Italian town that refused to accept Nazi rule during World War II.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

And when you have a collective working together it becomes a lot more effective".

The Guardian - Sport

Suddenly we were presented with the opportunity and the freedom to approach the music the way Massive Attack does: as a collective, working on sounds, rather than with each person in the band playing a prescribed role.

Wikipedia

For Colombia, this challenge looms large because a true sense of the country and its citizens as a "collective" working together contrasts with the long and deeply segregated nature of its society.

Huffington Post

"No – it is a great, collective work of art".

The Guardian - Arts

Gradually, we are instilled with the common sense that conservative writers like Edmund Burke and Samuel Johnson thought of as a great collective work.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In legal contexts, ensure clarity on copyright ownership when referring to "a collective work", as individual contributions may have separate copyrights.

Common error

Avoid assuming that ownership of "a collective work" automatically grants rights to all individual contributions. Each contributor typically retains copyright to their specific part, requiring separate permissions for use.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a collective work" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, indicating it adheres to standard English grammar rules. The examples provided by Ludwig show its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

28%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a collective work" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes a project or creation resulting from the combined efforts of multiple individuals. As Ludwig AI confirms, its versatility allows it to fit into various registers, from academic discussions to news reports. When using this term, it's important to be mindful of copyright implications, where individual contributions retain their own rights. Alternatives like "a joint work" or "a collaborative project" can offer slight variations in emphasis. The phrase appears most often in news and media, highlighting collaborative endeavors across many sectors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a joint work

Replaces "collective" with "joint", emphasizing the shared nature of the work.

a cooperative work

Substitutes "collective" with "cooperative", highlighting the collaborative aspect.

a collaborative project

Replaces "work" with "project", suggesting a specific, planned endeavor.

a team effort

Emphasizes the contribution of a team to the work.

a group creation

Focuses on the act of creating something as a group.

a communal creation

Communal further implies that the work is for the benefit of a group.

a combined undertaking

Replaces "work" with "undertaking", suggesting a task or project.

an ensemble piece

Often used in the context of art or performance, highlighting the combined contribution of multiple individuals.

shared authorship

More specific to written works, emphasizing the shared responsibility for the content.

a synergistic product

Highlights that the result of collective contribution is greater than the sum of individual contributions.

FAQs

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

You can use "a collective work" to describe projects like: "The museum exhibit featured "a collective work" by several local artists."

What are some alternatives to "a collective work"?

Alternatives include "a joint work", "a cooperative work", or "a collaborative project", each emphasizing slightly different aspects of collaboration.

Is "collective work" the same as "collaborative work"?

While similar, "collective work" emphasizes the group nature of the effort, whereas "collaborative work" highlights the act of working together. They are often interchangeable but can have subtle differences in connotation.

What legal considerations apply to "a collective work"?

Copyright law treats "a collective work" as a compilation, where each individual contribution retains its own copyright. Using individual parts requires permission from the respective copyright holders.