a compendium of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a compendium of" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a collection or summary of information on a particular topic. You can use it when you want to emphasize the comprehensiveness or completeness of a collection. Example: The book was a compendium of ancient Greek mythology, containing stories of gods, heroes, and epic adventures.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

A Compendium of Kisses.

The Economist

It is a compendium of allusions.

The New Yorker

(See a compendium of clips from the film).

The New Yorker

It's like he's doing a compendium of American music.

The Guardian

His play is a compendium of undramatic devices.

The Guardian

The poem is itself a compendium of my favorites.

The New Yorker

As a result, it was a compendium of compromises.

The Economist

For all its freshness and drive, however, "February House" is a compendium of rookie mistakes.

The New Yorker

Overweight and ugly, Fry is a compendium of society's darkest forces.

The New Yorker

It's a compendium of archival odds and ends: postcards, snapshots, arcane pronouncements.

The New York Times - Arts

A compendium of strange books should have been written a long time ago.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a compendium of" when you want to convey that something is a comprehensive and authoritative collection. It adds a touch of formality and sophistication to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a compendium of" in very casual or informal settings where simpler alternatives like "a collection of" or "a summary of" would be more appropriate. Overusing it can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a compendium of" functions as a noun phrase modifier, specifically acting as a determiner phrase. It introduces and characterizes a noun by indicating that it is a comprehensive collection or summary. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is considered grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a compendium of" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase, acting as a noun phrase modifier to denote a comprehensive collection or summary. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for diverse contexts. While the expression appears most often in news and media, it is also prevalent in scientific, formal and business contexts. While the word compendium has a formal tone so it is more suitable for formal writing, you should consider the audience you write to and the message you want to convey. You can use alternatives such as "a compilation of" or "a collection of" to communicate a similar idea without the formal touch of compendium.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a compilation of

Replaces "compendium" with "compilation", which is a more common and less formal synonym.

a collection of

Uses "collection" instead of "compendium", making the phrase simpler and more general.

a digest of

Suggests a more selective and summarized collection, focusing on essential information.

a summary of

Emphasizes the concise and condensed nature of the collection.

an anthology of

Implies a collection of literary works, like poems or stories.

an assortment of

Suggests a diverse and varied collection of items.

a repertoire of

Focuses on a set of skills or abilities.

a body of

Indicates a substantial and organized collection of knowledge or information.

a synthesis of

Highlights the combination of different elements into a unified whole.

a collation of

Suggests a careful gathering and arrangement of information.

FAQs

How can I use "a compendium of" in a sentence?

You can use "a compendium of" to describe a comprehensive collection or summary. For example, "The encyclopedia is "a compendium of" human knowledge."

What's a less formal way to say "a compendium of"?

Less formal alternatives include "a collection of", "a summary of", or "a group of", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "a compendium of" or "a compilation of"?

"A compendium of" and "a compilation of" are similar, but "compendium" implies a more authoritative and comprehensive collection. "Compilation" is a more general term.

When should I use "a compendium of" instead of "a list of"?

Use "a compendium of" when you are referring to a comprehensive collection of information or items that have been carefully gathered and organized. "A list of" is more appropriate for a simple enumeration of items without the implication of completeness or authority.