a collective yearning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a collective yearning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a shared desire or longing among a group of people for something specific. Example: "In times of crisis, there is often a collective yearning for unity and understanding among communities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

These classical compositions also tapped into a collective yearning for a fabled lost time.

The Guardian - Books

An exhibition of drawings made by primary school children from the area has been on show in Whitechapel, highlighting a collective yearning for a clean, safe neighbourhood.

The Guardian

There is a collective yearning for the New Year, as people look to the mystery of the calendar to work some healing in their lives.

The New York Times

Whether out of despair over the dearth of new developments, or merely from a collective yearning to look to the future, political gossip has turned from what Governor McGreevey did in office to what he will do starting on Nov. 15, when he leaves it.

The New York Times

Zombies represent a collective yearning for a simpler time.

Huffington Post

Here was a super-nation constructed out of a collective yearning for shared security, prosperity and modernity.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

What struck me the most about my fifth annual visit to the FPAs was a persistently sincere collective yearning to prove that vulgarity and liberation go hand in hand, or fist in vagina, or vibrator on prolapsed asshole, or well, you get the idea.

Vice

In an earlier post: Restoring America's Soul: The Hero's Journey of Barack Obama found here, I suggested that Obama's Hero's Journey is an outward manifestation, symbolic of our collective yearning for unity and wholeness.

Huffington Post

Sergeant Shalit has been one of the few points of collective yearning and accord in an often fractured society, and the protests reflect a belief — rightly or wrongly — that the government has not done all it can to gain his release.

The New York Times

The Andy Powell saga, the departure of the director of rugby, Tony Hanks, a succession of injuries, a crumbling pack... hoicking Josh Lewsey out of retirement betrayed the collective yearning for former glories.

The Guardian - Sport

Narrative art about the Holocaust runs the risk of indulging our collective yearning.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a collective yearning" to effectively convey a shared sense of longing or desire within a specific group or community, particularly when discussing social trends, cultural phenomena, or historical movements.

Common error

Avoid using "a collective yearning" when the desire or longing is not genuinely shared by a group but is rather an individual sentiment or a projection of one's own feelings onto others.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a collective yearning" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It acts as a subject or object in a sentence, describing a shared emotional state within a group. As exemplified by Ludwig, "a collective yearning" encapsulates a unified desire or longing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a collective yearning" is a grammatically correct and usable noun phrase that describes a shared desire or longing within a group. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, it's commonly found in news and media contexts. While not overly frequent, it is effective in conveying a sense of shared aspiration or nostalgia. It's important to use this phrase when the desire is genuinely shared, and consider more specific alternatives if greater precision is needed. The phrase is deemed grammatically correct and usable in written English according to Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a common longing

Highlights the feeling of missing something shared by many.

a mutual longing

Emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the feeling.

a communal desire

Emphasizes the shared nature of the desire among a community.

a joint desire

Similar to communal desire but can apply to smaller groups.

a shared aspiration

Focuses on a goal or ambition held in common, rather than a feeling of longing.

a widespread aspiration

Indicates a goal shared by a large number of people.

a united aspiration

Suggests a more formal and deliberate shared goal.

a general desire

Broader, implying a widespread but perhaps less intense feeling.

a popular desire

Suggests the desire is common and well-liked.

a universal longing

Implies that the longing is experienced by almost everyone.

FAQs

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

You can use "a collective yearning" to describe a shared desire or longing within a group of people. For example, "There is "a collective yearning" for simpler times" or "The project tapped into "a collective yearning" for a clean, safe neighborhood".

What are some alternatives to "a collective yearning"?

Some alternatives to "a collective yearning" include "a shared aspiration", "a communal desire", or "a common longing". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a collective yearning" in formal writing?

Yes, "a collective yearning" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in news articles, academic papers, or reports where you need to describe a shared emotional state within a group. However, consider if a more specific term like "shared aspiration" or "communal desire" might be more precise.

What's the difference between "a collective yearning" and "a shared desire"?

"A collective yearning" implies a stronger sense of longing or missing something, whereas "a shared desire" simply indicates that multiple people want the same thing. Yearning suggests a deeper emotional connection and a sense of something absent, while desire is a more general term.