categorize

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "categorize" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe the act of organizing something into groups or categories. For example: "The librarian is tasked with categorizing all the books in the library so they can be easily found by patrons."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If you add a Dislike, then you're actually adding a third, since you're trying to further categorize what 'Off' means: Indifference or Dislike?

The Economist

The institutionalists are more difficult to categorize.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Baldwin's charge that the protest novel was prone to categorize humanity rather than reflect its full "beauty, dread, and power" heralded a shift in the 1950s away from Wright's brand of realism.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Psychiatrists first used the term neurosis in the mid-19th century to categorize symptoms thought to be neurological in origin; the prefix "psycho-" was added some decades later when it became clear that mental and emotional factors were important in the etiology of these disorders.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The classification of religions involves: (1) the effort to establish groupings among historical religious communities having certain elements in common or (2) the attempt to categorize similar religious phenomena to reveal the structure of religious experience as a whole.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Although most Christian, as well as Islamic and Jewish, theologians tended to consider the question of whether natural religion gives insight into God's nature treating religion as a relation to the first cause of the universe the English philosopher Roger Bacon (c. 1220 c. 1292) preferred to categorize the various manifest kinds of religion as a preliminary effort to establishing a true theology.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It seems then implausible to categorize these subject-expressions as abstract singular terms, on a par with 'justice'mercyrcy' and 'refinement'; they are most naturally described as generic expressions, and are happily so-called by linguists.

SEP

Correlated with the categories of meanings are ontological categories; e.g., object, state of affairs, unit, plurality, number, and relation are (formal) categories that categorize objects, not meanings (Husserl 1913/2000, 237).

SEP

We can categorize philosophers' positions negatively in terms of which premises of the noncognitivist argument they accept or reject.[14] Some have rejected premise 1, often going on to defend forms of naturalist moral realism that embrace externalism (e.g. Railton 1986; Brink 1989).

SEP

Some phenomena involving absences may be tough to categorize.

SEP

First, we could categorize theories of blame according to the content of blaming attitudes.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "categorize", ensure that the criteria for categorization are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid creating categories that overlap significantly, as this can lead to confusion and undermine the purpose of categorization. Ensure each category is distinct and mutually exclusive.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "categorize" is as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. It denotes the action of placing items into specific categories. As supported by Ludwig, it is correctly and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

25%

News & Media

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "categorize" functions as a transitive verb used to describe the action of assigning items to specific groups based on shared characteristics. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used across diverse fields, primarily in science, encyclopedias, and news media. Alternatives include "classify", "group", and "sort". A key writing practice is to define clear categorization criteria to avoid ambiguity. One common error is creating overlapping categories, which undermines the organization's purpose. Overall, "categorize" is a versatile term for structuring information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

classify

A general synonym for arranging items into groups.

group

Focuses on forming collections of items.

arrange

Suggests putting items in a specific order or structure.

sort

Implies separating items into distinct sets.

label

Highlights assigning descriptive terms to items.

index

Focuses on creating an organized list for easy retrieval.

tag

Emphasizes assigning keywords for identification.

pigeonhole

Suggests placing items into narrowly defined categories.

systematize

Implies creating a structured and organized system.

compartmentalize

Focuses on dividing information into separate, distinct sections.

FAQs

How can I use "categorize" in a sentence?

You can use "categorize" to describe the action of assigning items to specific groups. For example, "The software helps users "categorize" their expenses for budgeting purposes."

What are some alternatives to the word "categorize"?

Alternatives to "categorize" include "classify", "group", and "sort", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "categorize" and "classify"?

While "categorize" and "classify" are often used interchangeably, "categorize" can sometimes imply a more general grouping, whereas "classify" suggests a more systematic or scientific approach to grouping items.

What does it mean to "categorize" information?

To "categorize" information means to arrange it into groups based on shared characteristics or criteria, making it easier to manage, analyze, and understand.