an assortment of

USAGE SUMMARY

"an assortment of" is a valid part of a sentence in written English.
You can use the phrase when referring to a variety of different items or options. For example: "I found an assortment of snacks in the pantry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

(Jay Russell plays an assortment of other roles).

The New York Times

And he played an assortment of positions.

The New York Times - Sports

It's quite an assortment of Republican options.

The New York Times

The mines were stocked with an assortment of wooden numbers.

Princeton University

I'll be publishing an assortment of these notes/tips.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Contestants were given an assortment of small objects.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

1. Provide the students with an assortment of materials.

Stanford University

Sure, there is also an assortment of non-baseball news.

The New York Times - Sports

Race and sex can both evoke an assortment of associations.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

An assortment of bookshelves lines some of the walls.

The New York Times

Have your design and an assortment of paints ready.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an assortment of" to indicate a varied collection when you want to emphasize the diversity rather than the quantity of items.

Common error

Avoid using "an assortment of" when referring to items that are essentially the same. This phrase works best when there's genuine variety within the collection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an assortment of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate a variety or collection of items. Ludwig examples showcase its use across numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an assortment of" is a versatile phrase used to describe a collection characterized by variety. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and finds frequent application across diverse fields like news, academia, and general writing. It's important to remember that while "a variety of" and "a selection of" can serve as alternatives, the original phrase, "an assortment of", best suits contexts where emphasizing the diversity within the collection is key. Keep in mind that it is considered poor style to use it when referring to elements that are essentially the same.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a variety of

Replaces "assortment" with "variety", emphasizing the diverse nature of the collection.

a selection of

Substitutes "assortment" with "selection", focusing on the act of choosing from a range.

a range of

Uses "range" instead of "assortment", highlighting the scope of different items.

a collection of

Replaces "assortment" with "collection", implying a curated or gathered group.

a mixture of

Substitutes "assortment" with "mixture", suggesting a blend of different components.

a number of

Uses "number" to indicate quantity, rather than the diversity of items.

a group of

Replaces "assortment" with "group", focusing on the items as a unified set.

various types of

Emphasizes the different kinds within the collection.

an array of

Substitutes "assortment" with "array", suggesting an organized or impressive display.

a diverse set of

Uses "diverse set" to highlight the heterogeneity of the items.

FAQs

How to use "an assortment of" in a sentence?

Use "an assortment of" to describe a collection of different items. For example, "The store sells "an assortment of candies"".

What can I say instead of "an assortment of"?

You can use alternatives like "a variety of", "a selection of", or "a range of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a assortment of" instead of "an assortment of"?

No, it's incorrect. "Assortment" begins with a vowel sound, so it requires the indefinite article "an", not "a".

What's the difference between "an assortment of" and "a collection of"?

"An assortment of" emphasizes variety, while "a collection of" implies a deliberate gathering, often with a specific purpose or theme.