a school of fish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a school of fish" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a large group of fish swimming together in a coordinated manner. Example: "While snorkeling, we were amazed to see a school of fish darting around the coral reef."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

A school of fish?

The New York Times

"That's a school of fish.

The New York Times - Sports

This afternoon I swam with a school of fish.

The New Yorker

How is a wind farm like a school of fish?

MIT Technology Review

He added: "It will be like a school of fish.

The New York Times

I have heard the Hadid design described as a "school of fish".

The New Yorker

A flock of birds hitch a ride and a school of fish swim along.

The New York Times - Books

The shark could have been chasing a school of fish, lifeguards say.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

As Adam Greenberg stood on the on-deck circle while Dickey warmed up for the bottom of the sixth, a school of fish-themed mascots raced by.

The New York Times

Downtown, there was a film; uptown, a school of fish-shaped helium balloons, attracted by currents of warm air, seemed to follow visitors around.

The New Yorker

[Exclusive VideOlafurEliassonark On The Moon With Olafur EliaSculptureAt Weiwei.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a school of fish" to vividly describe the synchronized movement and collective behavior of fish in natural settings or as a metaphor for coordinated groups.

Common error

Avoid using singular verbs with "school of fish" when referring to the group's collective action; use plural verbs if focusing on individual fish within the group. For example: The school of fish moves together (collective action), but the fish in the school are different sizes (individual aspects).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a school of fish" functions primarily as a noun phrase, serving as the subject or object in a sentence. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is standard and grammatically sound. It denotes a collective entity, specifically a large group of fish swimming together.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

24%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a school of fish" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that describes a group of fish swimming together. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and broad applicability. It appears most often in News & Media, Science and Wiki contexts. When using the phrase, remember that it implies coordinated movement, distinguishing it from a simple "group of fish". Alternatives include "shoal of fish", offering similar descriptive power.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shoal of fish

Replaces "school" with "shoal", another term for a large group of fish.

fish shoal

A more succinct variant, omitting "of".

group of fish

Uses a more general term, "group", instead of the specific term "school".

large group of fish swimming together

Expands the phrase to explicitly describe the action of swimming together.

fish cluster

Describes fish closely packed together.

swarm of fish

Implies a more chaotic or dense gathering of fish.

gathering of fish

Replaces "school" with "gathering", implying a temporary assembly.

collection of fish

Replaces "school" with the more generic term "collection".

fish aggregation

A more scientific or technical term for a gathering of fish.

fish community

Suggests a more structured or interconnected group of fish.

FAQs

How can I use "a school of fish" in a sentence?

You can use "a school of fish" to describe a large group of fish swimming together. For example, "We saw "a school of fish" while snorkeling near the reef."

What's a synonym for "a school of fish"?

A common synonym for "a school of fish" is "a shoal of fish". Both terms refer to a large group of fish swimming together.

Is it correct to say "a school of fishes"?

While "fishes" is the plural of "fish" when referring to multiple species, ""a school of fish"" is generally used regardless of the number of species present.

How does "a school of fish" differ from "a group of fish"?

"A school of fish" specifically implies coordinated movement and behavior, while "a group of fish" is a more general term for any collection of fish.