a complex assortment of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a complex assortment of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a diverse and intricate collection of items, ideas, or elements. Example: "The exhibition featured a complex assortment of modern art pieces, each representing different styles and techniques."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Down deep, she is a complex assortment of logic exercises, HTML code and market research.

The New York Times

"Triomf" is comic writing shot through with serious intent, a complex assortment of tones superbly conveyed by the South African poet Leon de Kock's often exhilarating translation.

The New York Times - Books

"I have had a horrible life and a wonderful life," he said in his suite at the Carlyle, speaking in an English colored by a complex assortment of European accents.

The New York Times

The intensive care unit contains a complex assortment of monitors and life-support equipment that can sustain life in situations that previously proved fatal, such as adult respiratory distress syndrome, multiorgan failure, kidney failure, and sepsis.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Staffed by specialized personnel, the intensive care unit contains a complex assortment of monitors and life-support equipment that can sustain life in once-fatal situations, including adult respiratory distress syndrome, kidney failure, multiple organ failure, and sepsis (see septicemia).

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Grudge experiments with non-linear storytelling and gives audiences a complex assortment of sub-plots.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

This complex assortment of metabolic compounds is generated from and transported across multiple tissues, making evaluation of mechanistic data especially challenging (Caldwell JC et al. 2008).

Environmental Health Perspectives

In comparison, component-oriented single-marker based approaches (adapted from the mainstream pharmaceutical industry) do not account for the complex assortment of metabolites generally present in herbal medicine [ 22, 23].

BMC Genomics

The result should put to rest any unidimensional characterization of the "colonizationist" middle in the slavery debate, replacing it with a complex and contradictory assortment of coexisting motives and organizations, each loosely related and sometimes allied, yet also prone to the same discord that separated them from the abolitionist and pro-slavery extremes.

Johns Hopkins University

St . Petersburgs skyline is newly muscular, with high-rise luxury condos, the $40 million BayWalk shopping and entertainment complex and a growing assortment of gleaming hotels and offices.

The New York Times - Travel

Several of our recent advances in nanofabrication make it possible to choose from an entire spectrum of nanostructured materials, stiffnesses, shapes, symmetries, orientations, and large-scale surface gradients, enabling a given stimulus to be translated into a vast assortment of complex multiscale patterns and adaptive responses.

Current Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a complex assortment of", ensure that the complexity and variety are relevant and contribute to the overall meaning. Avoid using it as a generic filler; instead, specify the nature of the complexity and the types of items in the assortment for greater clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a complex assortment of" to describe simple collections. Opt for more straightforward descriptions like "a variety of" or "a selection of" when the items are not genuinely complex or diverse.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a complex assortment of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, describing it with a sense of intricacy and variety. Ludwig examples shows how it's used to characterize different kind of collections.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a complex assortment of" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe a diverse and intricate collection. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, noting its application across various contexts, including News & Media, Encyclopedias and Science. While not exceedingly common, its use indicates a desire to emphasize both the variety and the intricacy within a given set of items or ideas. When using this phrase, it is important to ensure the context justifies the description, avoiding overuse in simplistic situations and specifying the nature of the complexity for maximum impact. Alternatives include "a diverse collection of", "an intricate array of", or "a varied range of", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a diverse collection of

Emphasizes the variety and heterogeneity within the collection.

an intricate array of

Highlights the elaborate and detailed arrangement of the elements.

a multifaceted compilation of

Stresses the many different aspects and the act of gathering together.

a heterogeneous mix of

Focuses on the non-uniform nature and blending of the elements.

a varied range of

Highlights the spectrum and extent of different options or items.

a sophisticated compilation of

Highlights the refinement of the grouping.

a wide-ranging selection of

Focuses on the comprehensive nature and the act of choosing.

a rich tapestry of

Emphasizes the interwoven and layered nature of the elements.

a motley collection of

Highlights the diverse and sometimes mismatched nature of the elements.

a mixed bag of

Suggests a random and unplanned gathering of items, often with varying quality.

FAQs

How can I use "a complex assortment of" in a sentence?

Use "a complex assortment of" to describe a collection that is both diverse and intricate. For example, "The museum displayed a complex assortment of artifacts from different eras".

What are some alternatives to "a complex assortment of"?

You can use alternatives like "a diverse collection of", "an intricate array of", or "a varied range of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a complex assortment of things"?

While grammatically correct, "a complex assortment of things" can be vague. It's better to specify what the "things" are to provide more clarity and impact.

What's the difference between "a complex assortment of" and "a simple assortment of"?

"A complex assortment of" implies a collection with intricate and diverse elements, while "a simple assortment of" suggests a collection with straightforward and less varied components. The use of complex qualifies the depth of variation in the collection, whereas simple indicates a lack of intricacy.