collect a sample of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "collect a sample of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are gathering a portion of something for analysis or examination, such as in scientific research or quality control. Example: "In order to conduct the experiment, we need to collect a sample of the soil from the designated area."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

During the baseline and follow-up surveying periods, interviewers visited each study household to: 1) administer a questionnaire to the person responsible for primary drinking water collection; 2) collect a sample of the primary drinking water source; and 3) collect a urine sample from the study respondent.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Using a vacuum pump, students collect a sample of hydrogen chloride gas, common to toilet bowl cleaners and the human stomach, in a small leak-proof container at room temperature but at a pressure six times lower than the atmosphere's.

The New York Times

In an effort to recreate early experiments, the author collects his urine and roasts the residue for phosphorus, again without any luck.An effort to collect a sample of every element also goes unrewarded.

The Economist

Also, studies may collect a sample of triads to confirm results initially found using a traditional case-control study.

The American Journal of Human Genetics

Using more than 10 years of the synoptic charts constructed from the maps nearest central meridian, we collect a sample of 848 active regions.

Advances in Space Research

The procedure is iterated a number of times with a different starting random point as to collect a sample of elementary shifts for each factor.

Computer Physics Communications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Dr Geert van der Snickt collected a sample of excrement to test in an effort to further disprove the bird droppings theory.

The Guardian - Arts

He says Carl Jung once claimed that if you collected a sample of 1,000 pebbles, you could calculate the average weight of a pebble on the beach.

The Guardian - Film

Preliminary results have been impressive: the group recently collected a sample of eggs in two neighborhoods where the engineered mosquitoes had been released, and found that eighty-five per cent of them were genetically modified.

The New Yorker

Stanislav Smirnov, maths professor at the University of Geneva, winner of the prestigious Fields medal in 2010 All the way back to Francis Galton (1822-1911), who collected a sample of "English men of science" and noted that a larger-than-chance number of them were first-born sons, psychologists have been interested in birth order and IQ.

The Guardian

The CHORUS experiment collected a sample of ∼3,000 neutrino interactions with a charmed particle in emulsion.

Nuclear Physics B - Proceedings Supplements

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scientific experiment, use "collect a sample of" to clearly indicate the process of obtaining material for analysis. For instance, "Researchers will collect a sample of the river water to test for pollutants."

Common error

Avoid assuming that a single sample perfectly represents the entire population. Always acknowledge the limitations of the sample size and potential biases when interpreting results.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collect a sample of" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of gathering a subset from a larger whole. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is correct and usable. Examples from Ludwig show its usage in various contexts, including scientific and medical fields.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

23%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "collect a sample of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase indicating the action of gathering a subset of something for analysis. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to describe the process of obtaining a representative portion, frequently in scientific or medical contexts. While understandable in most settings, this phrase is most at home in neutral to formal registers. Based on Ludwig's examples, the phrase sees frequent usage in science and news, with less common usage in formal business contexts. When using this phrase, remember to consider the representativeness of your sample and avoid overgeneralizations. Alternatives such as "gather a specimen of" or "obtain a sampling of" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gather a specimen of

Focuses on obtaining a representative part, often for scientific purposes.

obtain a sampling of

Emphasizes getting a representative selection from a larger set.

acquire a portion of

Highlights gaining possession of a part of something.

take a measurement of

Implies obtaining data or dimensions from a subject.

draw a fraction of

Suggests extracting a smaller quantity from a larger whole.

extract a segment of

Focuses on removing a specific part from a larger entity.

secure a piece of

Emphasizes the act of obtaining a fragment or element.

procure an excerpt of

Implies obtaining a selected part, usually from a written work.

accumulate a selection of

Highlights the process of gathering diverse items from a larger pool.

garner a fragment of

Suggests collecting a small, often incomplete, part of something.

FAQs

How can I use "collect a sample of" in a sentence?

You can use "collect a sample of" when you want to express the action of gathering a portion of something for analysis or examination. For example, "The scientist needs to collect a sample of blood for testing."

What are some alternatives to "collect a sample of"?

Alternatives include "gather a specimen of", "obtain a sampling of", or "acquire a portion of", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "take a sample" or "collect a sample of"?

Both "take a sample" and "collect a sample of" are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. "Collect a sample of" emphasizes the action of gathering, while "take a sample" is more concise.

In what contexts is "collect a sample of" most appropriate?

"Collect a sample of" is frequently used in scientific, medical, and environmental contexts where precision in describing the process of gathering a portion for analysis is important. For instance, "The doctor will collect a sample of tissue for biopsy".