circulated a book

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "circulated a book" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of distributing or sharing a book among a group of people, such as in a reading group or educational setting. Example: "The teacher circulated a book among the students to encourage discussion and engagement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A film producer who chronicled Arnold Schwarzenegger's rise to fame as a champion bodybuilder in the 1970's circulated a book proposal six years ago that quoted the young Mr. Schwarzenegger expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler.

The New York Times

One old boyfriend circulated a book proposal saying that he'd smoked crack with her during a five-month affair; in 1990, her half sister sold the story of Oprah's teen-age pregnancy (the baby was born prematurely, and died five weeks later) to the National Enquirer for nineteen thousand dollars.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

He began circulating a book manuscript titled "Climbing the Mountain".

The New Yorker

In fact, he's circulating a book proposal called "The Little Kitchen".

The New York Times

Browbeat, Slate's culture blog, reported on Tuesday that Mr. Lehrer was circulating a book.

The New York Times

"Circulating a book to students about making a bomb would be the wrong thing to do," he said.

The New York Times

A controversial Texan evangelical, David Barton, has sought to invoke Jefferson in support of his view that America was explicitly founded as a Christian country; but in 2012 a Christian publishing house withdrew at the last moment from circulating a book by Mr Barton on that theme, on grounds that the accuracy of his arguments was open to question.

The Economist

He has circulated a "green book" to ministers with tips on how to curb their departments' spending.

The Economist

Through the first years of the century, Stratemeyer and his publishers engaged in an epic publicity effort that included buying up lists of children's names and addresses, circulating a catalogue of books, and seizing every chance to cross-promote his books.

The New Yorker

In the experiments, a library pays an annual fee to circulate a collection of digital books for a year and netLibrary passes a portion of the fees to publishers.

The New York Times

In a 14-page proposal circulated to book editors, Ms. Bair described herself as a lifelong Republican who has become known as someone with common sense and independence.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "circulated a book" when you want to emphasize the process of distributing a book within a specific group or network. Consider who is doing the circulating and to whom the book is being circulated to provide more context.

Common error

Avoid using "circulated a book" when referring to mass-market releases. Instead, opt for "released a book" or "published a book" to accurately depict the broader distribution scope.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "circulated a book" functions as a verb phrase describing the action of distributing a book, often within a limited or specific group. Ludwig confirms its proper usage. The examples provided illustrate this action in different contexts, such as circulating a book proposal or copies of a book.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "circulated a book" effectively describes the act of distributing a book within a select group. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While versatile, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts. The phrase implies a targeted distribution, often for promotional or feedback purposes. Alternatives like "distributed a book" or "shared a book" can be used depending on the specific context and intended meaning. When using the phrase, ensure that the distribution is limited and purposeful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distributed a book

Focuses on the act of spreading the book among a group.

promoted a book

Emphasizes the marketing aspect of making a book known.

shared a book

Implies a more personal and informal distribution.

released a book

Highlights the official publication of the book.

launched a book

Suggests a formal introduction of the book to the public.

disseminated a book

Indicates a widespread distribution, often in a formal context.

peddled a book

Suggests aggressive or persistent attempts to sell or promote the book.

marketed a book

Focuses specifically on the marketing strategies employed.

offered a book

Indicates making the book available, but doesn't necessarily imply active distribution.

made a book available

Similar to 'offered a book', but emphasizes the accessibility of the book.

FAQs

What does "circulated a book" mean?

Circulating a book means distributing copies to a select group of people, often for review, feedback, or promotion before a wider release, or within a closed network.

What can I say instead of "circulated a book"?

You can use alternatives like "distributed a book", "promoted a book", or "shared a book" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I circulated the book to my friends"?

Yes, that's a perfectly valid sentence. It means you gave copies of the book to your friends, likely for them to read or provide feedback.

What is the difference between "circulated a book" and "published a book"?

"Circulated a book" implies a limited distribution to a specific audience, whereas "published a book" refers to making the book available to the general public through formal channels.