certain copies

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "certain copies" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to specific versions or duplicates of a document, item, or material without specifying which ones. Example: "The publisher has decided to release certain copies of the book with a special cover design."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"When you have to send things or make certain copies, then you have to get in your car and go to Kinko's," he said.

The New York Times

Before the mid-18th century, some European wares had found their way to China, as witness certain copies of early Meissen porcelain.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Certain copies are now in positions they originally had here in the artists' home during their lifetimes and this gives valuable insight into what the couple chose to hang.

The New York Times

Then the selected antibodies proliferate into certain copies, and the copied and original ones are replicated in the current population.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

As a consequence, certain copies arriving with the founders have a high occupancy in the current populations.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

It could also allow for certain copies to be inherited unchanged while other copies are recombined in novel experimentation.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Their Gods that Failed are not just the City and Wall Street and various other citizens that annoy them but, in a smart rhetorical manouevre, certain copy-book moral failings: speculation, recklessness, greed, arrogance, oligarchy and excess.

The Guardian - Books

He took piano lessons and fell in love with show tunes from watching early cartoons, and by borrowing scores from the public library, which may still be missing a certain copy of Jule Styne's "Gypsy".

The New York Times

While it's common knowledge that leaving sensitive personal information in trash bins or on computers raises the risk of identity theft, many consumers may not be aware that copying sensitive information on certain copy machines could also put them at risk.

The New York Times

As speculation, perhaps at a certain copy number a gene conversion threshold is crossed so that the copies are more efficiently constrained to a single sequence.

Plosone

Based on this, we hypothesized that cells with a higher DM copy-number would divide more frequently up to a certain copy-number level, where the selection pressure would continuously shift to become less favourable (Figure 6A).

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "certain copies", ensure the context makes it clear why these copies are being singled out. Are they modified, of a higher quality, or subject to specific restrictions?

Common error

Avoid using "certain copies" without providing enough context. The reader should understand which copies are being referred to and why they are significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certain copies" functions as a noun phrase where "certain" acts as a determiner specifying that only some, not all, of the copies are being referred to. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "certain copies" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase to denote a subset of reproductions, signifying that not all copies are being referenced. As Ludwig AI states, it is usable in written English. Its usage is prevalent in scientific, news, and general writing contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the criteria that distinguish these particular copies. While alternatives like "specific duplicates" may offer greater precision, "certain copies" remains a versatile and understandable choice across various registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

specific duplicates

Replaces "copies" with "duplicates" to emphasize the identical nature of the items, while retaining the specificity indicated by "certain".

particular instances

Substitutes both "certain" and "copies" to highlight selected occurrences or cases, shifting the focus slightly from physical duplicates to specific events or examples.

selected reproductions

Replaces "copies" with "reproductions" to clarify the items are replicas, emphasizing the selection aspect with "selected".

definite iterations

Uses "iterations" instead of "copies" to refer to versions in a sequence or process, making it suitable for discussing software or design.

precise imitations

Implies that copies are made very accurately. Good if you are talking about art or design.

distinct replications

Replaces "copies" with "replications" to emphasize the act of reproducing, adding "distinct" to ensure a sense of separateness or uniqueness among the replicas.

some specimens

Offers a shift in context, using "specimens" to suggest examples from a collection or set, useful in scientific or analytical discussions.

respective versions

Focuses on individual versions, implying each is unique or tailored to a specific context.

determined prints

Emphasizes that the copies are physical outputs and that these have been pre-selected or determined.

individual units

Shifts the focus to copies as separate, countable items, useful in inventory or distribution contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "certain copies" in a sentence?

Use "certain copies" when you want to refer to a specific, but not explicitly named, subset of duplicates. For example, "The archive retains all originals, but only "certain copies" are digitized for public access."

What are some alternatives to using "certain copies"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "specific duplicates", "particular instances", or "selected reproductions".

Is it better to say "certain copies" or "specific copies"?

Both "certain copies" and "specific copies" are grammatically correct, but "specific copies" may provide slightly more clarity, as it directly indicates a known and defined subset. "Certain" implies a selection that might not be immediately clear to the reader.

What does "certain copies" imply about the copies being discussed?

"Certain copies" implies that only some copies, as opposed to all copies, possess a particular characteristic, are intended for a particular purpose, or are subject to specific conditions. The distinction is often crucial for clarity.