appendages

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "appendages" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to additional parts or attachments, often in a biological or anatomical context. Example: "The octopus has several appendages that it uses for movement and manipulation." Alternatives include "attachments" or "limbs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But for now this technique is much more likely to assist in quantum computing than relieving idiots of their appendages.

The Guardian - Film

Whether or not he had partly dislodged the wing against a kerb earlier in the lap may never be known, but the effect of its absence was an indictment of the latest technology, which relies heavily on downforce – the effect of air passing over the car and its aerodynamic appendages.

The Guardian - Sport

At first they were appendages of city parks, something to go with the bandstand and the boating lake.

The Economist

They certainly should not be, in essence, disguised appendages of banks, as many were in the West and some still are in China.The benefits of failureBy and large, regulators understand these principles and are moving that way.

The Economist

Other known species of the group seem to have swept prey into their mouths with two tentaclelike appendages.

The Economist

In Brazil the big state-controlled oil company, Petrobras, and the state-controlled banks have become virtual appendages of government policy.

The Economist

At least in Europe, they remain wary of big mergers and acquisitions, which typically involve selling off expendable appendages to the likes of Blackstone or Carlyle.

The Economist

He is not, for instance, in favour of tearing down the Berlin Wall altogether, arguing that a plague of drugs and AIDS might then sweep into East Germany.Mr Modrow was this week putting together a new government, aiming to include in it some representatives of newly assertive parties like the Liberal Democrats, which hitherto have been mere appendages of the communist party.

The Economist

Controlling the movements of these flexible appendages is difficult octopuses use rehearsed motions as one means of keeping them in order.Another has been probed by Binyamin Hochner from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and his team in a study just published in Current Biology.

The Economist

This has identified the brain mechanisms responsible, and even suggested treatments for these disabling "appendages".

The Economist

Once old enough, the boys became soldiers and the girls became soldiers' wives or appendages.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing biological structures, use "appendages" to specifically refer to limbs or other projecting parts of an organism's body for a precise anatomical description.

Common error

Avoid using "appendages" when you mean "appendices". "Appendices" typically refers to supplementary material at the end of a document, while "appendages" are physical extensions or attachments.

Linguistic Context

The word "appendages" primarily functions as a plural noun. It refers to parts or organs that are attached to the main body of an animal or plant, or to additional components added to a larger structure, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

36%

News & Media

22%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "appendages" is a grammatically correct and frequently used plural noun that refers to attachments or extensions, particularly in biological and mechanical contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is descriptive, aiding in the identification of physical projections. While it maintains a generally neutral to formal register, it often appears in scientific writing and encyclopedic entries. When using "appendages", be sure to distinguish it from "appendices", which refers to supplementary materials in documents.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attachments

Focuses on the function of being connected or joined to something else.

extensions

Highlights the aspect of lengthening or increasing the size of something.

protuberances

Emphasizes the outward projection or bulge from a surface.

projections

Similar to protuberances but can also refer to planned or calculated extensions.

outgrowths

Implies a natural growth or development extending from the main body.

additions

Focuses on the act of adding or including something extra.

auxiliary parts

Highlights the supplementary or supporting role of the added components.

adjuncts

Refers to something added or connected in a subordinate or auxiliary position.

accessories

Emphasizes optional or non-essential items added for convenience or aesthetics.

ancillary components

Highlights the supporting or assisting function of the added elements.

FAQs

How to use "appendages" in a sentence?

"Appendages" refers to additional parts or attachments, often in a biological or anatomical context. For example, "The insect has six legs and two antennae, all of which are "appendages"."

What can I say instead of "appendages"?

You can use alternatives like "attachments", "extensions", or "limbs" depending on the context. Consider using "attachments" when referring to something connected or joined, or "limbs" when referring to arms or legs.

Which is correct, "appendages" or "appendices"?

"Appendages" and "appendices" have different meanings. "Appendages" refers to physical extensions or attachments. "Appendices", on the other hand, refers to supplementary materials at the end of a document. For example, in a scientific paper, you might have "appendices" containing additional data or methods.

What's the difference between "appendages" and "accessories"?

"Appendages" are typically natural or integral parts of something, especially living organisms. "Accessories", however, are optional or non-essential items added for convenience or aesthetics. A crab's claws are "appendages", while a car's features like a sunroof are considered "accessories".