archive of letters

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "archive of letters" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a collection or repository of written correspondence, often for historical or personal significance. Example: "The historian spent years researching the archive of letters between the famous authors to gain insight into their relationship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

The picture comes with an entire documentary archive of letters and clips.

The New York Times

Drying out by the fire, we looked through their archive of letters and photographs of the club founders.

The Guardian - Travel

It was caused, in part, by "a surfeit of autobiographical material" — a family archive of letters and news clippings that Helen had collected in a carton for her.

The New Yorker

An archive of letters and documents relating to Otto Frank, father of Anne Frank, will be auctioned off in New York in November.

The New Yorker

An extensive archive of letters, book drafts, audio tapes and photographs relating to the film director Andrei Tarkovsky is to appear at auction in London.

The Guardian - Film

A handful of youthful poems by Daphne du Maurier have been found in an archive of letters, with two previously unknown discovered hidden behind a photograph frame.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

The National Right to Life Committee maintains archives of letters sent by congressmen like Mr. Gore in reply to anti-abortion activists.

The New York Times

Newman and Jacobs draw on early survey research and on archives of letters to government officials to show how much hostility Roosevelt's programs faced.

University of California, Berkeley

Davis eventually gave the archive thousands of letters which she had written, day after day, to her mother.

The Guardian

These include about 2,500 archive boxes of letters, telegrams, documents and photographs that are stored in Cambridge and currently viewable only by appointment.

The Guardian

Falsifying Beckett thus offers new readings of Beckett by returning to his archive of notebooks, letters, and drafts.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "archive of letters", specify the context or owner of the archive to provide clarity. For instance, "the university's archive of letters" or "the author's personal archive of letters".

Common error

Avoid treating "archive" as a plural noun when it's singular. It's correct to say "an archive of letters" not "an archives of letters". "Archives" is the plural form.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "archive of letters" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage, indicating its established role in conveying information about letter collections.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

28%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Science

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "archive of letters" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to identify and describe collections of letters, often with historical or personal significance. While relatively formal, it's suitable for a range of contexts, especially news and academic writing. For more casual situations, alternatives like "collection of letters" may be more appropriate. Remember to use 'an archive' rather than 'an archives' and specifying the context of the archive will provide clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collection of letters

This alternative is a more general term, suitable for describing any collection of letters, regardless of its organization or purpose.

repository of letters

This alternative emphasizes the storage aspect of the collection, suggesting a more organized or official compilation.

correspondence archive

This alternative uses 'correspondence' to specify the type of letters, implying a formal or professional exchange.

epistolary archive

This alternative uses a more formal term ('epistolary') for letters, suitable for academic or historical contexts.

file of letters

This alternative suggests a less curated collection, more akin to a simple file system.

assemblage of letters

This alternative emphasizes the act of gathering letters together, focusing on the collection process.

compilation of letters

This alternative focuses on the act of compiling or putting letters together in a structured way.

store of letters

This alternative highlights the quantity or volume of letters being kept.

hoard of letters

This alternative implies a large, possibly disorganized collection, often with a sense of secrecy or possessiveness.

body of letters

This alternative suggests a substantial and coherent collection, often representing a significant portion of someone's written output.

FAQs

How is an "archive of letters" different from a "collection of letters"?

While both terms refer to groups of letters, "archive of letters" often implies a more formal, organized, and historically significant collection, while "collection of letters" is a more general term. The "collection of letters" might be less curated or less historically important.

What kind of documents might I find in an "archive of letters"?

Besides the letters themselves, an "archive of letters" might also include related documents such as envelopes, photographs, drafts, notes, and biographical material that provide context to the correspondence.

Where can I find an "archive of letters"?

Archives of letters are typically found in libraries, museums, historical societies, and universities. Some archives have been digitized and are accessible online.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "archive of letters"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as "collection of correspondence", "epistolary archive", or "repository of letters".