all of

USAGE SUMMARY

"all of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the entirety of something, e.g. "All of the people in the room applauded the speech."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Backpfeifengesichts, all of them.

Independent

On all of us".

The New York Times

All of that matters.

The New York Times

That's all of us.

The New Yorker

All of us are.

Independent

All of the wiring.

The New Yorker

All of it worked.

The New York Times - Sports

All of us should.

The New York Times

Got all of that?

The New York Times

All of that.

The New York Times

In all of history?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all of" to refer to a group or collection when you want to emphasize the inclusion of every member or element. For instance, "All of the students passed the exam" highlights that no student failed.

Common error

Avoid using "all of them" when "all" is sufficient. For example, instead of saying "All of them are invited", say "All are invited" to avoid unnecessary repetition.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "all of" is to act as a quantifier, specifying the entirety of a group or thing. As Ludwig AI indicates, it precedes a noun phrase or pronoun, indicating a complete set.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "all of" is a versatile and frequently used prepositional phrase that functions as a quantifier. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct, and it serves to emphasize the inclusivity or completeness of a group or thing. While "all of" is suitable for many contexts, it is important to avoid redundancy, opting for "all" when appropriate. Remember, this expression works best when you want to show that every element of a set is included in your discussion. Predominantly featured in news and media outlets, this expression's use extends across various registers, making it useful across formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every one of

Emphasizes individuality within the group; slightly more formal.

each of

Focuses on individual members of a group, highlighting their separate roles or characteristics.

the entirety of

More formal, emphasizes the complete scope or extent.

the whole of

Similar to "the entirety of" but can sometimes imply a more holistic view.

every bit of

Emphasizes the quantity or degree of something.

the sum total of

Focuses on the cumulative aspect, suggesting an aggregation.

everything about

Refers to all aspects or details of something.

the aggregate of

A more formal term, suitable for technical or analytical contexts.

universally

Indicates that something applies to everyone or everything without exception.

completely

Emphasizes the thoroughness or exhaustiveness of something.

FAQs

How do I properly use "all of" in a sentence?

"All of" is typically followed by a determiner (like "the", "my", "these") and a noun, such as in "All of the books are on the shelf". It can also be followed by a pronoun like us or them, such as in the sentence "All of us want to go home".

What are some alternatives to "all of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "every one of", "each of", or "the entirety of". Consider the specific nuance you want to convey when choosing an alternative.

Is it ever incorrect to use "all of"?

While generally correct, avoid redundancy. Saying "all of them" when "all" suffices is a common mistake. For example, prefer "All participants must register" over "All of them participants must register".

What's the difference between "all of" and "all"?

"All of" is often used before pronouns or noun phrases with determiners (e.g., "all of us", "all of the students"). "All" can stand alone or be followed directly by a noun (e.g., "All students must attend").