association

USAGE SUMMARY

The word association is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a connection between two things or to describe a group of people that join together to achieve a common goal. For example: "The students formed an association to promote environmental awareness on their college campus."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Nine belong to a parliamentary association that wants the teaching of history in schools to give a better gloss to Japan's militarist era".

The New York Times

The strength of feeling in the party was highlighted on Sunday when 20 current and former Tory constituency association chairmen delivered a letter to No 10 warning that the bill would inflict "significant damage" to the party in the runup to the next election.

The Guardian

Method: Dr Julie Makani from Muhimbili University in Tanzania is working with the Wellcome Trust to conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in order to better understand the genetic and environmental factors affecting SCD.

The Guardian

Farah, who won Olympic gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m a year after joining Salazar in 2011, also insisted that he was a "100% clean athlete", but feared that some would think, after watching the BBC's Panorama programme on Wednesday night, that he is guilty by association.

The Guardian - Sport

The council had been asked to rule on the case of Ahmed Sahnouni, a Moroccan-born man naturalised in 2003, who was convicted and given a seven-year prison sentence in March 2013 for "association with criminals in relation to a terrorist plot".

The Guardian

The judge's findings led to Lawrie's demise as opposition leader and Wyvill, one of the NT's foremost silks and a known Labor supporter, resigned as president of the bar association.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

The spectacle ended with Palin participating in a word-association game, asked to say the first thing that came to mind as her interviewer named what turned out to be three people.

The Guardian

Labor in opposition pledged to repeal Vlad and the anti-association laws.

The Guardian

In government it has committed only to a review of the laws, although the attorney general, Yvette D'Ath, has flagged concerns with anti-association and mandatory sentencing that removes discretion from judges.

The Guardian

The DUP, UUP, Traditional Unionist Voice, the Ulster Volunteer Force-aligned Progressive Unionist party and the Ulster Defence Association-linked Ulster Political Research Group said it showed that "the commission members place no value on a relationship with unionism and have treated our advice with contempt".

The Guardian

However, associate professor Richard Parker, president of the NT branch of the Australian Medical Association AMAA) – who had not seen the published letter – said those calling for law reform were dismissing college of obstetrics guidelines which were based on decades of medical experience.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "association", clarify the purpose or nature of the relationship to provide context. For example, instead of saying "He has an association", specify "He has an association with a local charity".

Common error

Avoid using "association" in vague contexts. Replace it with more specific terms like "relationship", "partnership", or "affiliation" to enhance clarity. For example, instead of a vague "business association", specify "business partnership" or "business affiliation" to accurately describe the connection.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "association" is as a noun, referring to a group of people organized for a joint purpose or a connection between things. Ludwig provides examples showcasing both usages, supporting the validity and versatility of this word.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "association" functions primarily as a noun, denoting either a group of individuals organized for a common purpose or a connection between different entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and versatile. The examples provided by Ludwig highlight its frequent use in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific contexts. To ensure clarity, it's best to specify the nature and purpose of the "association". While alternatives like "organization", "group", and "connection" exist, choosing the right synonym depends heavily on the specific context. Avoiding vagueness and providing sufficient detail will result in more precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

organization

Focuses on the structured group aspect rather than the act of associating.

group

A more general term for a collection of entities.

affiliation

Emphasizes a formal connection or alliance.

connection

Highlights a link or relationship between items.

society

Implies a structured community with shared interests.

relationship

A broad term referring to any kind of link or bond.

alliance

Highlights a cooperative agreement for mutual benefit.

coalition

Suggests a temporary union for a specific purpose.

partnership

Implies a collaborative effort, often in business.

linkage

Focuses specifically on the act or state of being linked.

FAQs

How can I use "association" in a sentence?

You can use "association" to describe a connection between two things, as in, "There is a strong association between smoking and lung cancer", or to refer to a group of people joined for a common purpose, such as, "The neighborhood formed an association to improve local parks".

What are some alternatives to the word "association"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "association" include "organization", "group", "affiliation", "connection", or "society".

Is it correct to say "in association with"?

Yes, the phrase "in association with" is a common and correct way to indicate a partnership or collaboration between two entities. For example, "This project was completed in association with a local university".

What is the difference between "association" and "affiliation"?

"Association" generally refers to any connection or group, while "affiliation" usually implies a more formal or official connection, often suggesting membership or alignment with a specific organization. For example, joining a professional association versus having an affiliation with a political party.