as a crowd

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a crowd" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a group of people acting or being considered together in a specific context. Example: "The fans cheered as a crowd, creating an electrifying atmosphere in the stadium."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

On Saturday night the temple was deliberately burned to the ground, as a crowd watched on.

BBC

Stravinsky as a Crowd Pleaser?

The New York Times - Arts

Archives|Stravinsky as a Crowd Pleaser?

The New York Times - Arts

What swayed them as a crowd?

The New Yorker

Beijing duck is offered here, probably as a crowd pleaser.

The New York Times

As a crowd watches, a passerby asks what they have done.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Shrimp tempura is thrown in purely as a crowd-pleaser.

The New York Times - Arts

Think of it as a crowd-sourced version of Dignitas.

The Guardian - Opinion

The burlesque scenes will surely reinforce Mr. Lane's stature as a crowd-pleaser.

The New York Times

Although the freestyle session was added as a crowd-pleaser, it is still finding its audience.

The Washington Post

Think of yourself less as a secret agent, more as a crowd-sourcing wiki-agent.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as a crowd", ensure it accurately reflects the group's unified action or state. For instance, "They cheered as a crowd" implies a collective expression of joy.

Common error

Avoid using "as a crowd" when referring to individual actions within a group. It is more appropriate to use phrases like "among the crowd" or "within the group" to highlight individual behaviors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a crowd" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun by describing the manner in which an action is performed or the state of being of a group. It typically indicates collective action or a shared characteristic within the group. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is usable and correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

8%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a crowd" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase, primarily found in news and media contexts. It effectively describes the collective behavior or state of a group of people. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English. When writing, ensure it accurately reflects a unified action, and avoid using it in singular contexts. Alternatives like "in a crowd" or "among a crowd" may be more suitable depending on the desired emphasis. The phrase’s prevalence in reputable sources confirms its widespread acceptance and utility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in a crowd

Focuses on the physical location within a crowd, rather than the collective action.

among a crowd

Similar to "in a crowd", emphasizing being surrounded by a group.

with a crowd

Highlights the presence of a crowd, but not necessarily their unified action.

surrounded by people

Emphasizes the state of being encircled by individuals.

amidst a gathering

Uses a more formal term, "gathering", instead of "crowd".

in the midst of a group

Highlights the position within a group of people.

as part of a group

Emphasizes membership or inclusion in a group.

together with others

Focuses on the collective nature of the group.

in conjunction with many

More formal, emphasizing cooperation or combined action.

alongside a multitude

Uses "multitude" to describe a large number of people.

FAQs

How can I use "as a crowd" in a sentence?

Use "as a crowd" to describe the collective behavior or state of a group of people acting together. For example, "The protesters marched "as a crowd", chanting slogans".

What phrases are similar to "as a crowd"?

Similar phrases include "in a crowd", "with a crowd", or "among a crowd". The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize location or collective action.

Is it correct to say "as a crowd, they dispersed"?

Yes, this is grammatically correct. It describes the action of a group splitting up. However, it's important to ensure the context clearly establishes that "they" refers to the crowd.

What's the difference between "as a crowd" and "in a crowd"?

"As a crowd" emphasizes the collective action or behavior of the group, while "in a crowd" primarily indicates physical location. For instance, "They moved "as a crowd"" versus "He felt lost "in a crowd"".