an odd assortment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an odd assortment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a collection of items or people that are unusual or varied in nature. Example: "The garage sale featured an odd assortment of furniture, toys, and vintage clothing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Arts

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A bucket holds an odd assortment of old clock hands.

The New York Times

It was completely isolated, a typical holiday let with an odd assortment of damp furniture.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

All of which has left an odd assortment of levees protecting these towns, even now.

The New York Times

This makes for an odd assortment of music from Madonna to Pavarotti.

The New York Times

The new world order has brought together an odd assortment of characters.

The New York Times

The tree provides a home for an odd assortment of birds, proving once again that everything can be made useful.

The New York Times - Books

The institutions sharing its grass-and-sedum-planted roof will make an odd assortment, Martin Horrox, Falmouth's press officer, admits.

The Guardian

He used an odd assortment of Super 8 millimeter, Super 16 and basic 16 film shot with an old Bolex.

The New York Times

On a crumpled sheet of tin foil in the Wellcome Collection's conservation studio lies an odd assortment of plasticine forms.

The Guardian

A club like Barnsley acquires an odd assortment of footballers and Jacob Mellis was one of those from whom much was expected very quickly.

Independent

Mr. Garment was initially a special consultant on an odd assortment of issues, grouped as "civil and human rights, voluntary action and the arts".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an odd assortment" to vividly describe collections that defy easy categorization or contain unexpected elements. For instance, "The museum displayed an odd assortment of ancient artifacts and modern art."

Common error

Avoid using "odd" in "an odd assortment" to imply poor quality or negativity. "Odd" refers to something unusual or unexpected, not necessarily something inferior. For example, don't say "The chef used an odd assortment of spoiled ingredients"; instead, focus on the spoilage, like "The chef used spoiled ingredients."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an odd assortment" functions as a descriptive noun phrase. It modifies a noun, indicating that the collection being described is unusual or peculiar. Ludwig's examples showcase this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Arts

9%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Sports

3%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an odd assortment" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a collection of items or people that are unusual or unexpectedly diverse. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is widely used in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While the phrase itself is versatile, it's important to ensure that the word "odd" is used appropriately, emphasizing the unusual nature of the collection rather than implying any negative quality. Alternatives like "an unusual collection" or "a peculiar mix" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unusual collection

Replaces 'odd' with 'unusual', keeping the same basic meaning but with a slightly different connotation.

a peculiar mix

Substitutes 'assortment' with 'mix' and 'odd' with 'peculiar', suggesting a strange combination.

a strange variety

Changes 'odd assortment' to 'strange variety', implying diversity with an element of strangeness.

a curious collection

Replaces 'odd' with 'curious', suggesting the assortment is interesting or intriguing in its strangeness.

an eclectic mix

Uses 'eclectic' to highlight the diverse and unconventional nature of the assortment.

a motley group

Emphasizes the varied and often mismatched nature of the collection, especially when referring to people.

a haphazard collection

Highlights the randomness and lack of organization in the assortment.

a disparate array

Indicates a collection of distinctly different or incongruous items or elements.

an incongruous mix

Highlights the elements of the assortment that do not seem to belong together.

a mixed bag

An idiomatic expression suggesting a collection containing both good and bad elements, or a variety of different things.

FAQs

How can I use "an odd assortment" in a sentence?

Use "an odd assortment" to describe a collection of things that are unusual or do not seem to belong together. For example, "The store sold "an odd assortment" of vintage toys and modern electronics".

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

You can use alternatives like "an unusual collection", "a peculiar mix", or "an eclectic mix" depending on the context.

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

No, it is grammatically incorrect. Since "odd" begins with a vowel sound, it requires the indefinite article "an" rather than "a".

What's the difference between "an odd assortment" and "a random assortment"?

"An odd assortment" implies that the items are strange or unusual, while "a random assortment" simply suggests that the items were selected without a specific pattern or purpose. The first is focused on the strange or unordinary nature of components, the latter simply on the casual choice, like the difference between "an odd choice" and "a random choice".