classify

USAGE SUMMARY

'classify' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean to organize or group people or things according to shared characteristics. For example: "The librarian classified the books according to genre."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Late last year, following decades of profound systematic abuse, institutional racism and the repeated denial of civil rights, Chicago citizens asked the United Nations to classify what their notoriously brutal police force does to them, in an American city, as a violation of international anti-torture statutes.

The Guardian

It also urged the Foreign Office to classify Bahrain as a "country of concern" if its human rights record did not improve.

The Guardian

But the federal government is refusing to classify the housing situation in some regions as a bubble.

The Guardian

The decision about whether to classify severe obesity as a disability will be controversial whichever way it goes.

The Guardian - Opinion

The communications minister repeatedly refused to classify the coverage in those terms.

The Guardian

We therefore allowed the schools themselves to classify their programmes.

The Economist

It is even possible to construct images that, to a human, look like meaningless television static, but which neural networks nevertheless confidently classify as real objects.This is not to say that progress in AI will have no unpleasant consequences, at least for some people.

The Economist

The proof of the 70-gene marker came when Dr Friend tested it against a fresh batch of 19 tumour samples, and tried to classify them according to whether the disease was likely to recur within five years or not.

The Economist

Banks have to classify their loans not just according to a borrower's past behaviour but also with an eye on its future prospects, and must set aside reserves to cover loans that are not yet in default-a forward-looking methodology that is familiar in America but rare in Europe, where loans are graded by past performance only.

The Economist

NATURAL selection follows no plan, which makes human attempts to classify biodiversity inevitably messy.

The Economist

And rare are the PC users who systematically classify their files.More important, however, users have proved slow to adopt new computer interfaces.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about scientific or technical subjects, use "classify" to show a systematic and rigorous approach to categorizing data or observations. For example: "Scientists classify organisms based on their evolutionary relationships."

Common error

Avoid using overly broad categories when you "classify" items. Instead, strive for precise and specific criteria to ensure meaningful distinctions. For example, instead of classifying all books as 'fiction' or 'non-fiction', consider using more refined genres and subgenres.

Linguistic Context

The verb "classify" functions as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object to complete its meaning. It describes the action of assigning something to a particular category or group, as supported by Ludwig and its many examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "classify" is a versatile term used to describe the act of assigning items to specific categories based on shared attributes. As Ludwig AI explains, it's grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, including news, science, and business. Common synonyms include "categorize", "group", and "sort", each carrying slight nuances. When using "classify", strive for precise criteria to avoid overgeneralizations. Its prevalence in authoritative sources like The Economist and The Guardian underscores its reliability and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

categorize

Focuses more on placing items into predefined categories.

categorize

Stresses adherence to established types or classes.

group

Emphasizes the act of forming collections based on shared attributes.

sort

Highlights the process of arranging items in a specific order or sequence.

identify

Focuses on recognizing and distinguishing an item from others.

arrange

Implies a more deliberate and organized placement of items.

designate

Suggests a formal appointment or assignment to a specific category.

label

Highlights assigning a descriptive term to identify an item or group.

grade

Implies an evaluation based on a scale of quality or performance.

pigeonhole

Informal term for assigning someone or something to a restrictive category.

FAQs

How can I use "classify" in a sentence?

You can use "classify" to describe the act of assigning something to a particular category or group. For example, "The librarian needs to "classify" the new books."

What is a synonym for "classify"?

A synonym for "classify" is "categorize", which also means to divide into classes or groups.

What is the difference between "classify" and "categorize"?

"Classify" and "categorize" are often used interchangeably, but "classify" can sometimes imply a more formal or structured system of organization.

How do scientists use the term "classify"?

Scientists use "classify" to organize and group organisms or other phenomena based on shared characteristics or evolutionary relationships. This helps in understanding and studying the natural world.