collating

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'collating' is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to collect, organize, and arrange information or data in a specific order or sequence. Example: I spent the whole afternoon collating the data for the annual report.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No such studies have been announced, despite Qatari officials insisting they are committed to collating and investigating such figures.

The Guardian

The photo-sharing network is going to start taking its lead from parent company Facebook and sending regular email updates to users collating the best posts from people they follow.

The Guardian - Tech

By collating almost every twin study across the world from the past 50 years, researchers determined that the average variation for human traits and disease is 49% due to genetic factors and 51% due to environmental factors.

The Guardian

Lebanese artist Doris Bittar, who is collating a Facebook exhibition of art on migrant workers, said the "52 Weeks" campaign had been launched because the situation had reached breaking point.

The Guardian

The organisation responsible for collating and releasing average pay across the NHS is the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

The Guardian

Experts who have written detailed histories of terror groups, as well as those involved in collating stories from combatants, say the use of the archive to detain and prosecute republicans has created a chill factor amongst those at the sharp end of four decades of violence.

The Guardian

By collating the responses it is possible to spot problem departments and crooked officials.Around 25,000-30,000 automated calls are now being made each day, and "we are gathering remarkable data on who is corrupt and where," says Mr Saif.

The Economist

The Kosova Press site does a good job of collating Albanian sources on the war.

The Economist

However, until now it has proved trickier for the travel business as it involves collating frequently changing data from many airlines and hotels.Gorilla marketingEven with help from such marketing tricks, the smaller OTAs will find it increasingly hard to compete with the big two.

The Economist

Which is, as they report in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, the case.Proving the point involved collating a lot of previous research.

The Economist

For readers who can understand Bosnian (not too hard if you know another Slavonic language) Bosnian Television is running a live feed collating protest news from around the country.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, use "collating" to emphasize the careful gathering and arranging of information from various sources to form a cohesive whole. This term is particularly effective in academic, business, and formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "collating" in casual or informal writing. Simpler terms like "collecting", "gathering", or "organizing" are more appropriate for everyday conversations or informal content.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "collating" is that of a present participle or gerund of the verb "collate". It describes an ongoing action of gathering and organizing information, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

The Guardian - Opinion

2%

The New Yorker

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "collating" functions as a present participle or gerund, signifying the action of gathering and arranging information in a structured manner. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term is grammatically correct and frequently used, especially in neutral to formal contexts like news reports, encyclopedias, and scientific documents. While it's most common in news and media, it's less suited for informal settings where simpler terms like "gathering together" or "collecting data" might be more appropriate. Using "collating" effectively involves recognizing its emphasis on systematic organization, making it a valuable term for academic, business, and formal communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compiling data

Specifically refers to assembling data, often with the implication of creating a report or summary.

assembling information

Highlights the process of putting information together, similar to collating in a more general sense.

compiling evidence

Specifically refers to gathering evidence, often in a legal or investigative context.

gathering together

Focuses on the act of bringing items into one place, similar to collating but less formal.

organizing materials

Emphasizes the arrangement and structuring of materials, a key aspect of collating.

consolidating reports

Emphasizes the merging of multiple reports into a single document.

systematizing data

Focuses on putting data into a structured system, highlighting the organizational aspect.

integrating findings

Highlights the combination of research results into a cohesive whole.

marshalling facts

Focuses on arranging facts in a logical and persuasive manner.

amassing details

Emphasizes the accumulation of a large quantity of details, similar to collating in its gathering aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "collating" in a sentence?

"Collating" is typically used to describe the process of gathering and arranging information systematically. For example, "The researcher is "compiling data" from various studies for the meta-analysis."

What can I say instead of "collating"?

Alternatives to "collating" include "gathering together", "compiling data", or "assembling information" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "collating" rather than "collecting"?

"Collating" implies a more structured and organized approach to gathering information compared to simply "collecting". Use "collating" when the arrangement and organization of the gathered material are important.

What is the difference between "collating" and "compiling"?

While both terms involve gathering information, "collating" focuses on the arrangement of information, whereas "compiling data" suggests creating a summary or report from the gathered material.