a party

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a party" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to a social gathering or celebration where people come together for a specific purpose. Example: "We are hosting a party for Sarah's birthday next weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They have a party.

The New Yorker

"A party of death.

The New Yorker

What is a party?

The New Yorker

It was a party.

The New York Times - Arts

This is a party".

The New York Times - Sports

A party is planned.

The New York Times - Sports

It's a party".

The New York Times - Sports

They're having a party".

The New York Times

It's a party trick.

The New Yorker

You're at a party.

The New York Times

Not a party.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase as a singular noun even when it refers to a group of people, ensuring subject-verb agreement.

Common error

Do not use 'a party' in professional or legal contexts if there is a risk of the reader interpreting it as a social gathering. Be specific about the type of entity you are referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a party" functions as a noun phrase consisting of the indefinite article "a" and the common noun "party". In English, it acts as a flexible identifier for social events, political factions, or legal entities. According to Ludwig, it can serve as a subject, direct object, or object of a preposition in various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Reference

10%

Academic

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a party" is an essential component of English vocabulary due to its extreme versatility. Whether used to describe a casual social gathering, a complex political organization, or a specific legal participant, it maintains a stable grammatical structure. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage across high-authority publications like The New York Times and The New Yorker, reinforcing its correctness. Writers should be mindful of the context to ensure the intended meaning—be it celebratory or institutional—is clear to the reader. Given its high frequency and multi-faceted definitions, it remains a foundational phrase for both everyday and professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a celebration

Emphasizes the joyful or commemorative nature of a social event

a social gathering

More descriptive and neutral than the standard term

a political organization

Specifies the institutional nature of a political group

a festive event

Highlights the atmosphere and organized nature of the party

a faction

Suggests a smaller group within a larger political or social entity

a shindig

Adds a very informal and colloquial flavor

a gala

Suggests a more formal and high-status social event

a legal entity

Used in formal law to describe an individual or group involved in an agreement

a bash

A common slang term for a large and energetic party

a soiree

Refers specifically to an elegant evening party

FAQs

How to use "a party" in a sentence?

In a social context, you can say, "We are throwing "a party" for his graduation". In a political context, it is used as "She joined "a political party" last year".

What is the difference between "a party" and "a gathering"?

While "a gathering" is a broad term for any group of people meeting, "a party" usually implies a specific purpose, such as a celebration or an organized political group.

Can I say "a celebration" instead of "a party"?

Yes, if the event is specifically intended to honor an achievement or milestone, using "a celebration" provides more descriptive detail than "a party".

Is it "a party to" or "a party of"?

It depends on the context. Use "a party to" for legal involvement (e.g., a party to a contract) and "a party of" for groups (e.g., a party of four) or political alignment.