apples

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "apples" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the fruit, as a metaphor for something of value, or to mean the plural form of the word "apple". For example: "My mother told me an old saying - an apple a day keeps the doctor away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We have become suspicious: of their mawkish advertising, of their treatment of farmers, of their desperate bids to package up things that really don't need packaging up at all (I mean this literally and metaphorically, versions of "restaurant-style" dishes being every bit as phoney and wasteful as apples wrapped in too much plastic).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You can learn to prune apples from a book, but it's easier and more fun to learn from a person.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They wrote: "The comparison between observation based estimates of [warming] … and model-based estimates is comparing apples and pears, as the models are calculating true global means, whereas the observations have limited coverage".

The Guardian

To this day, when using their online "food tracker", I manually score apples one point, just to spite them.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

lemon, dash of water Porridge 1 cup porridge oats, 2 cups water or milk (or a mixture of the two), pinch of salt or brown sugar, 1 tbsp acacia or runny honey (optional) Make the apple purée by slicing the apples into a small saucepan and adding the lemon juice and a dash of water.

The Guardian - Books

Bill Oddie has told the Radio Times that he wants to see children once again straying into gardens and orchards to scrump apples.

The Guardian - Opinion

For students of a Suffolk tongue there's an old duck talking about how to make jam, and for prospective cockneys there is a bloke telling how he'd fallen down the old apples and pears and landed on his boat race.

The Guardian

First, the cook must rustle up the stuffing – a byzantine combination of, among other things, breadcrumbs, veal, pork, butter, caraway seeds, poppy seeds, apples, orange, crushed tinned pineapple and preserved ginger – and sew it carefully into the bird, which is then browned in a very hot oven.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Apples, of course, store well and russets are widely believed to improve over time.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Porridge with honey and apple purée serves 1 Magic ingredient apples Apples are rich in cholesterol-lowering fibre.

The Guardian - Books

Apple purée 2 large Bramley apples, peeled and cored, juice of ?

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "apples", be specific about the variety or type if it's relevant to your context. For instance, instead of simply saying "apples", you might say "Granny Smith apples" or "cooking apples" to provide more clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "apples" as a catch-all term when specific characteristics matter. For instance, don't assume all "apples" are suitable for baking; some varieties hold their shape better than others. Be specific to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The word "apples" functions primarily as a plural noun, denoting multiple instances of the fruit. It can also be used metaphorically, as seen in the expression "comparing apples and pears", indicating a comparison of dissimilar things. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Lifestyle

30%

Books

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Travel

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "apples" is a common and versatile plural noun primarily used to refer to the fruit. As Ludwig AI explains, it can also take on metaphorical meanings, such as in the phrase "comparing apples and pears". This analysis reveals that "apples" is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, lifestyle content, and books. While grammatically straightforward, effective use involves considering the specific apple variety or context for greater clarity. When writing, avoid overgeneralization and ensure specificity when describing attributes of "apples". Authoritative sources like The Guardian and The Economist frequently employ the term, reflecting its widespread usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apple fruit

Specifies the type of fruit, narrowing the general term.

apple varieties

Refers to different types or cultivars of apples.

orchard apples

Indicates apples grown in an orchard setting.

fresh apples

Emphasizes the freshness of the apples.

cooking apples

Specifies apples suitable for cooking purposes.

apple harvest

Refers to the process or time of harvesting apples.

apple crop

Denotes the yield or quantity of apples produced.

apple produce

Indicates apples as an agricultural product.

apple picking

Refers to the activity of collecting apples.

apple consumption

Focuses on the act of eating apples.

FAQs

How can I use "apples" in a sentence?

You can use "apples" in various contexts, such as "I bought a bag of "apples" at the market" or "She enjoys baking pies with "apples" from her garden".

What is a common metaphor using "apples"?

A common metaphor is "comparing "apples and oranges"", which means comparing two things that are fundamentally different and not comparable.

What are some different types of "apples"?

There are many different types of "apple varieties" such as Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, and Honeycrisp, each with its own unique taste and texture.

Is it correct to say "apple" instead of "apples"?

It depends on the context. "Apple" is singular and refers to one apple, while ""apples"" is plural and refers to multiple apples. For example, "I ate an apple" versus "I ate three "apples"".