a mob formed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mob formed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where a group of people gathers, often in a chaotic or unruly manner. Example: "As tensions rose in the city, a mob formed outside the government building, demanding change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

They held me in place as a mob formed around us on the pavement and everyone started shouting.

Independent

ANTAKYA, Turkey — At 1 a.m. last Sunday, in the farming town of Surgu, about six hours away from here, a mob formed at the Evli family's door.

The New York Times

A few weeks ago, for instance, a mob formed at a Toys RR" Us in Times Square, stared at an animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex, then fell to the floor with screams and a waving of hands before quickly dispersing.

The New York Times - Magazine

But while this was being carried out a mob formed outside the hospital calling for Asghar to be killed and threatening the doctors, who, frightened, ruled he was only suffering from depression.

The Guardian

When there were only 20 or so IDs left, things got interesting: a mob formed, and trading started.

Huffington Post

Amid ongoing tense relations between the population and the soldiers, a mob formed around a British sentry, who was subjected to verbal abuse and harassment.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The victims were forced to take refuge inside of a local police station in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, after a resident accused the men of being gay and a violent mob formed in response, according to a video released by Jamaica LGBT News.

Huffington Post

A mob forms and marches to Grimes's hut; hearing them coming, he hurries his apprentice out the back door so fast that the boy falls off the cliff to his death.

The New York Times - Arts

It's hard to see it when a mob forms unless it's something massive like the almost-revolution in Iran.

TechCrunch

When he tries to escape to the Jellyfish Fields, a mob forms and chases him, but is unable to catch him.

Wikipedia

Try getting into a public tiff about religion with a mufti in small-town Pakistan and see how fast a mob forms and blasphemy charges are filed against you.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the connotation of "mob". Use it when you want to emphasize the unruly or potentially violent nature of a crowd. Otherwise, a more neutral term like "group" or "crowd" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "a mob formed" when describing a simple gathering of people without any implication of aggression or disorder. Opt for more neutral terms like "a group gathered" or "a crowd assembled" in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mob formed" functions as a subject and verb, describing the action of a group of people coming together, usually with negative implications. Ludwig's examples show this phrase used to describe events ranging from protests to attacks.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

29%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a mob formed" is grammatically correct and used to describe the gathering of a group of people, typically with negative implications of disorder or potential violence. According to Ludwig's analysis, this phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts and has a neutral register. When using this phrase, it's crucial to consider the connotation of "mob" and whether it accurately reflects the nature of the gathering. Consider alternatives such as "a crowd gathered" or "a group assembled" for more neutral descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an angry crowd gathered

Adds the adjective "angry" to specify the mood of the people gathered.

a crowd gathered

Replaces "mob" with the more neutral term "crowd", changing the connotation.

people gathered into a mob

Inverts the sentence structure to emphasize the act of gathering.

a group assembled

Uses a more formal verb "assembled" instead of "formed", implying a more organized gathering.

a disorderly group convened

Substitutes "mob" with "disorderly group" and "formed" with "convened", indicating lack of organization.

a throng congregated

Replaces both "mob" and "formed" with synonyms, creating a more literary feel.

a hostile assembly appeared

Uses "hostile assembly" to convey a more aggressive tone than "a mob formed".

a mass of people materialized

Employs "materialized" to suggest a sudden and possibly unexpected gathering.

a multitude emerged

Uses "multitude" instead of "mob", sounding more numerous and potentially less threatening.

a cluster of individuals amassed

Replaces the term with less charged nouns, lowering emotionality of the phrase.

FAQs

What is another way to say "a mob formed"?

You can use phrases such as "a crowd gathered", "a group assembled", or "people gathered" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a mob formed" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a mob formed" carries a connotation of disorder and potential violence. Consider using more neutral alternatives like "a group formed" or "a crowd gathered" in formal writing unless the intent is to emphasize the unruly nature of the gathering.

What's the difference between "a mob formed" and "a crowd gathered"?

"A mob formed" suggests an unruly or potentially violent gathering, while "a crowd gathered" is a more neutral description of people coming together. The choice depends on the specific context and the intended connotation.

How does the context affect the choice of using "a mob formed"?

The context is crucial. Use "a mob formed" when emphasizing the disorganized, angry, or violent nature of the gathering. In other cases, opt for more neutral phrases like "a group formed" or "a crowd gathered".