a selected thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a selected thing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an item or object that has been chosen or picked out from a group. Example: "In the experiment, we focused on a selected thing to analyze its properties and effects."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

According to Austin, a stating by use of that sentence would be correct if the thing selected in the stating via the demonstrative conventions were sufficiently like standard situations or states of affairs in which a selected thing is red.

SEP

They might achieve this by, for example, their use on a particular occasion of the present tense, or by pointing, etc. (1950a: 121 126).[10] The English sentence "This is red" is correlated by the descriptive conventions with a type of way for things to be: a type instanced by all and only those historic situations or states of affairs in which a selected thing is red.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Into this mush walked Usher (looking lumpy, it must be said), who was quickly surrounded by a constellation of sales associates, following him from rack to rack as he selected things to take home.

The New York Times

For the Museum of Freedom, should it be selected, things could be even trickier.

The New York Times - Arts

The general description included in those topoi enables us to identify cases that the orator can present as good, noble, just, etc., the added reason shows us how to argue for the goodness, etc. of the selected things.

SEP

So for me, I hand selected things I personally loved but things women would love as well.

Huffington Post

We assumed the user could move a cursor around to select things on our main menu, but this was not the case.

TechCrunch

Trump does not lie about a few things or select things.

Huffington Post

Microsoft has dumbed this down into optically tracked gestures like the "air tap" for HoloLens that let you select things in a pretty straightforward, yet cumbersome way.

TechCrunch

That includes improving the traditional discovery experience and also introducing powerful tools like visual search — which gives users a way to look for products by just selecting things that pop up in pictures.

TechCrunch

"Now it's become a bit of a snazzy fashion industry, and you have to be careful to select things that are actually comfortable and functional for the dog".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a selected thing", ensure the context clearly indicates the selection process. Provide information about who or what did the selecting, and the criteria used.

Common error

Avoid using "a selected thing" when simpler alternatives like "the chosen item" or "a specific object" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a selected thing" functions as a noun phrase where "selected" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "thing". Ludwig AI indicates that it refers to an item that has been chosen.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a selected thing" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to refer to an item or object that has been chosen or picked out from a group. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, although it's relatively rare. While its primary contexts are Science and News & Media, it's important to consider simpler alternatives like "a chosen item" or "a specific object" to avoid unnecessary formality. Ensure the context clearly indicates the selection process when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a chosen item

Replaces 'selected' with 'chosen', implying a deliberate act of selection.

a specially chosen thing

Adds emphasis to the act of choosing with 'specially'.

a particular object

Focuses on the specificity of the object, rather than the act of selecting it.

a specific item

Similar to 'particular object', emphasizes the distinctiveness of the item.

a singled-out item

Emphasizes that the item was chosen from many.

a designated entity

Implies the thing was formally chosen for a purpose.

a hand-picked item

Highlights the careful and personal nature of the selection.

a targeted object

Implies that the thing was selected for a specific purpose or action.

a preferred item

Suggests the item was chosen because it was liked more.

a curated selection

Suggests the selection was made with expert knowledge.

FAQs

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

You can use "a selected thing" to refer to an item or object that has been chosen or picked out from a group. For example: "In the experiment, we focused on "a selected thing" to analyze its properties and effects."

What are some alternatives to "a selected thing"?

Alternatives include "a chosen item", "a particular object", or "a specific item", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "a selected thing" and "the selected thing"?

"A selected thing" implies one item among many was chosen, while "the selected thing" implies a specific item already known or under discussion was chosen. The choice depends on whether you are introducing the item or referring to a previously identified item.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a selected thing"?

It is appropriate to use "a selected thing" when you want to emphasize the act of selection and the fact that the item was deliberately chosen for a reason or purpose. However, avoid overuse in simple contexts where simpler alternatives might be more appropriate.