are a flock

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are a flock" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a group of birds or people who are behaving in a similar manner, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "The children are a flock, moving together through the park, laughing and playing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Counted among the fans drawn to the men's Final Four are a flock of disappointed coaches, athletic directors and presidents who wish they could have been here as participants, not spectators.

The New York Times - Sports

Also not spared are a flock of barely disguised political and media celebrities like Bill O'Reilly, Don Imus, the late Tim Russert and Susan Molinari, a former New York congresswoman whose career went poof after a burst of national glory.

The New York Times - Books

Among those figures are "a flock of dead birds," "a headless goat man" and a "lion with four heads, who looks this morning / As he rises from the shadows, like the creature / Who carries on his back the flat and shining earth".

The New York Times - Books

Along with that are a flock of chickens and a couple of bee hives.

Huffington Post

Here are a flock of fresh, flavorful ideas to get your family excited about supper again.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"We were a flock of parakeets dressed in bright colors.

The New York Times

He cautioned that the object could have been a flock of birds.

The New York Times

This year it's a flock of ravens so noisy they wake everybody up.

The Washington Post

It's a flock of sheep, eyes glinting in the beam as they hop out of the way.

The Guardian - Travel

"Instead of mating for life, why can't we just be a flock with benefits?" May 9, 2016.

The New Yorker

Escher prints: it's a flock of snowy geese migrating or, depending on how you squint, a phalanx of black crows.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are a flock" when referring to groups exhibiting collective behavior, particularly birds or, metaphorically, groups of people acting in unison.

Common error

Avoid using "are a flock" to describe static collections or groups lacking a sense of unified movement or behavior. Instead, opt for more general terms like "group" or "collection".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "are a flock" is to act as a predicate nominative, identifying or classifying the subject as belonging to a group characterized by collective behavior. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, aligning with examples showing its use to describe collections of people or animals.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are a flock" is grammatically sound and functions as a predicate nominative, typically describing a group exhibiting collective behavior. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity, further supported by examples from diverse sources. While the phrase is not very common, it appears in both News & Media and Scientific contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a sense of unified action or coordinated movement, aligning with its figurative and literal applications in reliable sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

constitute a group

Focuses on the act of forming a group, emphasizing composition rather than collective behavior.

form a gathering

Highlights the act of people or things coming together, with a more general connotation.

comprise a cluster

Emphasizes a tightly packed group, suggesting proximity and density.

represent an assembly

Implies a formal or organized gathering, often for a specific purpose.

make up a collection

Stresses the act of individuals contributing to a larger whole.

are part of a set

Highlights the membership within a defined group.

belong to a contingent

Suggests being part of a larger, often mobile, group.

fall into a category

Emphasizes classification and shared characteristics.

consist of a body

Focuses on the structural composition of a group.

build a company

Implies a social group, often with shared activities and companionship.

FAQs

How can I use "are a flock" in a sentence?

You can use "are a flock" to describe a group of birds or, metaphorically, a group of people behaving in a similar manner. For example, "The tourists "are a flock", following the tour guide closely."

What are some alternatives to "are a flock"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "constitute a group", "form a gathering", or "comprise a cluster".

Is it correct to use "are a flock" when referring to people?

Yes, it is correct, but it's often used metaphorically to suggest that the people are acting together in a unified way, similar to how birds in a flock behave.

What is the difference between "are a flock" and "are a group"?

"Are a group" is a more general term for any collection of entities. "Are a flock" specifically implies a collection behaving with coordinated movement or action, akin to birds in flight.