a living thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a living thing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to any organism that is alive, including plants, animals, and humans. Example: "In biology class, we learned that a living thing must have certain characteristics, such as growth and reproduction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's a living thing.

The New York Times

Soil is a living thing.

The New York Times - Food

The trampoline vibrated, like a living thing.

The New Yorker

He kicked like a living thing.

The New York Times

The play has become a living thing.

Independent

It grows like a living thing.

The New Yorker

Wine is a living thing.

The New York Times - Food

Language is a living thing.

The New York Times

A plant is a living thing.

Yale University

a living thing the whole way.

The New York Times - Books

"It's eternal, I guess — a living thing".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about science or biology, consider more specific terms like "organism" or "life form" if greater precision is needed.

Common error

Avoid using "a living thing" when a more specific term (e.g., "animal", "plant", "microorganism") would provide clearer and more informative context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a living thing" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It broadly refers to any entity that exhibits the characteristics of life, from plants to animals, as shown in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a living thing" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase to describe any entity that exhibits the characteristics of life. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions to categorize and emphasize the biological nature of an organism. It is used across various contexts, from news and media to academia, with a generally neutral formality level. When considering alternatives, "a living organism" or "life form" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. Remember to choose a more specific term when appropriate to enhance clarity. "A living thing" maintains a high source quality score and expert rating, reflecting its reliability and consistent usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a living organism

Replaces 'thing' with the more scientific term 'organism', specifying a complex biological entity.

a life form

A more general term referring to any entity that exhibits characteristics of life.

a breathing entity

Focuses on the aspect of respiration as a key characteristic of life.

a biological entity

Emphasizes the biological nature of the entity, suitable for scientific contexts.

a sentient being

Highlights the capacity for consciousness and feeling, implying a higher form of life.

a creature

A broader term that can refer to any living being, often used for animals.

an animate object

Contrasts with inanimate objects, highlighting the property of being alive.

a vital being

Stresses the importance and energy associated with life.

a growing entity

Focuses on growth as a defining characteristic of living things.

an existing organism

Highlights the organism's presence and existence.

FAQs

How can I use "a living thing" in a sentence?

You can use "a living thing" to describe any organism that exhibits characteristics of life, such as growth, reproduction, and metabolism. For example, "A tree is "a living thing" that requires sunlight and water to survive."

What is the difference between "a living thing" and "an organism"?

"A living thing" is a general term for anything that is alive, while "an organism" is a more scientific and specific term that refers to a complex biological entity.

What are some examples of "a living thing"?

Examples of "a living thing" include animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and protists. Each of these exhibits the characteristics of life.

Is it correct to refer to a virus as "a living thing"?

Whether a virus is "a living thing" is debated. They possess some, but not all, characteristics of life, such as the ability to reproduce, but they require a host cell to do so.