cataloguing

USAGE SUMMARY

"cataloguing" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe the act or process of making a list or catalog, or organizing items into categories. For example, "The librarian spent the morning cataloguing the library's new books."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Damning reports by human rights organisations cataloguing the dire living conditions for many workers tied to their employers by the kafala system and investigations by the Guardian resulted in an international outcry and criticism of Fifa for not doing more to bring pressure to bear.

The Guardian

David Sims, a Cairo-based urban planner, has spent years cataloguing the failures of Egypt's satellite cities, culminating in last week's well-timed publication of his latest book – Egypt's Desert Dreams: Development or Disaster?

The Guardian

In the sixth he returned to full disclosure, cataloguing the breakdown his wife, Linda, suffered during the fall-out over the first two volumes of My Struggle.

The Guardian - Books

Consultants advise cities to begin branding by cataloguing their strategic assets.

The Guardian

Over the past five years Davies has been cataloguing the 43,000 negatives, and selecting, restoring and printing the images that will be on display.

The Guardian - Arts

In a box of ephemera cataloguing his life, Newman keeps a "record of achievement" from school.

The Guardian - Music

The Cancer Genome Atlas is part of a wider effort, the International Cancer Genome Consortium, that is cataloguing genetic abnormalities in 50 traditionally defined types of cancer.

The Economist

The UN report, as it turns out, is cataloguing violent deaths by collecting the figures directly from the local death-certificate issuing authorities, about what the critics of the study by Burnham et al recently published in the Lancet have been asking for.

The Economist

Guangwu's government compiled a "Rumours Report", cataloguing people's complaints about local officials, and making assessments that were passed to the emperor.

The Economist

The commission was instrumental in cataloguing the wrongdoing of Alberto Fujimori, Peru's president in the 1990s.

The Economist

Add to that the $350 fee for professional appraisal of our house, the $221 for specialised help from an expert accountant and the hours spent on minutiae like cataloguing household furniture, estimating the value of used dresses, determining when my beloved "established legal residence" in our state and getting an estimate of the resale value of my battered pickup truck.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, make sure the items you are "cataloguing" are clearly defined and the criteria for inclusion are consistent.

Common error

Avoid using "cataloguing" when you simply mean 'listing'. "Cataloguing" implies a more structured and organized approach than a simple list.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "cataloguing" is that of a verb, either as a present participle (used in continuous tenses) or a gerund (functioning as a noun). Ludwig confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cataloguing" functions as a verb used to describe the action of systematically listing or classifying items or information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and media, science, and encyclopedia contexts. When using "cataloguing", ensure clarity in defining the items and criteria for inclusion. Alternatives like "listing", "classifying", and "indexing" offer similar meanings depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember that "cataloguing" implies a more structured approach than a simple list.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

classifying

Emphasizes sorting items into distinct categories based on shared characteristics.

compiling

Suggests gathering information from various sources into a single collection.

documenting

Implies creating a detailed written record of something.

listing

Focuses on creating a simple enumeration without necessarily implying organization.

recording

Focuses on capturing information for future reference, often in a systematic way.

indexing

Highlights creating an organized system for easy retrieval of information.

arranging

Highlights the act of organizing items in a specific order or sequence.

inventorying

Specifically refers to creating a detailed list of items, often for stocktaking or asset management.

systematizing

Emphasizes creating a structured and organized system.

tabulating

Focuses on presenting data in a table format.

FAQs

How is "cataloguing" used in academic writing?

In academic writing, "cataloguing" is often used to describe the systematic organization and classification of data, sources, or research findings. For instance, researchers might speak of "cataloguing" different approaches to a problem or "cataloguing" various theories in a field.

What are some alternatives to "cataloguing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "listing", "classifying", "indexing", or "compiling".

Is "cataloguing" formal or informal language?

"Cataloguing" is generally considered neutral to formal language, suitable for professional, academic, and news contexts. While not overly technical, it implies a level of systematic organization that is less common in casual conversation.

How does "cataloguing" differ from simply "listing"?

"Cataloguing" implies a systematic and organized approach to creating a list, often with specific categories or criteria. "Listing", on the other hand, is a more general term for creating a simple enumeration without necessarily implying a structured system.