a crew of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a crew of" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to refer to a group of individuals who work together in some capacity. For example: "The yacht was captained by a veteran sailor and had a crew of seven."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cliffs had a crew of regulars.

The New Yorker

It was a crew of thirty.

The New Yorker

Each boat has a crew of ten.

The New Yorker

He has a crew of five cooks.

The New Yorker

It has a crew of about eight.

The Guardian

Iataia has a crew of nine Mexicans.

The New York Times - Sports

It carries a crew of five thousand.

The New Yorker

It will carry a crew of 64.

The New York Times - Travel

A crew of three runs it.

The New York Times - Food

He leads a crew of 27.

The Guardian - Travel

There is a crew of fifteen.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a crew of" when referring to a team working closely together, especially in contexts involving ships, aircraft, or film production. Ensure the context aligns with the common understanding of a 'crew' as a group with shared responsibilities.

Common error

Avoid using "a crew of" to describe loosely associated individuals or groups where teamwork is not a central element. Opt for more general terms like "a group of" or "a gathering of" in such scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a crew of" functions as a determiner followed by a noun phrase, modifying another noun to specify a group of individuals working together. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in describing the composition of teams on ships, film sets, and other collaborative endeavors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

18%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a crew of" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a group of people working together, often with shared responsibilities. As evidenced by Ludwig, it appears frequently in news and media sources, as well as in Wikipedia, and its usage is considered neutral, making it suitable for a variety of contexts. While alternatives like "a team of" or "a group of" may be appropriate in certain situations, "a crew of" is most fitting when highlighting the coordinated efforts of a team, particularly in fields like sailing, aviation, or film production. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English. So, feel confident in using "a crew of" when you need to describe a working team.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a complement of

Often used in nautical or aviation contexts, similar to "crew".

a team of

Replaces "crew" with a more general term for a group working together.

a group of

A very general substitute, suitable for many contexts where "crew" might be too specific.

a staff of

More appropriate when referring to employees or personnel.

a party of

Suitable when referring to people together for social activity.

a unit of

Implies a structured or military group.

a task force of

Suggests a group assembled for a specific mission or project.

a squad of

Typically used for a small group, often in a military or sports context.

a detail of

Highlights a group assigned to a particular task.

a body of

Used to refer to a collection of people, often in a formal setting.

FAQs

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

Use "a crew of" to describe a group of people working together on a specific task or operation, such as "The ship had "a crew of" twenty sailors" or "The film set had "a crew of" fifty people".

What phrases are similar to "a crew of"?

Similar phrases include "a team of", "a group of", or "a staff of", depending on the specific context and the nature of the group you're describing.

When is it appropriate to use "a crew of" instead of "a group of"?

"A crew of" is best used when the individuals are working together in a coordinated manner toward a shared goal, particularly in contexts such as sailing, aviation, or filmmaking. "A group of" is more general and can apply to any collection of people.

Is "crew" singular or plural?

"Crew" is a collective noun, meaning it refers to a group of people but is treated as a singular noun. Therefore, you would say "The crew is working hard" rather than "The crew are working hard" (though the latter is sometimes accepted in British English).