collect from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "collect from" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of picking up or acquiring something from a specified source. For example: We need to collect the supplies from the store before the party.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

They outsource to either collection agencies or law firms in your local area to collect from you.

Huffington Post

Others try to collect from a cheating contractor.

The New York Times

Pick a healthy and vigorous plant to collect from.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

National Union will have to pay any of these claims and then collect from its relatives.

The New York Times

Last week, Christopher Rocancourt called (collect) from a jail in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The New Yorker

Some large contractors will give a rebate up front and collect from utilities or states themselves.

The New York Times

Jill called me collect from Atlantic City, where the preliminary competitions had been going on.

The New York Times

You can also opt for a courier to collect from your home.

The Guardian - Money

Much consumption is unmetered, and the state boards are slow to collect from customers.

The New York Times

"There is a finite amount of information we can collect from the universe," Dr. Loeb said.

The New York Times - Science

Unlike many dot-coms, though, Russia is still around to collect from.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "collect from", ensure the source is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "collect data from users" rather than just "collect data".

Common error

Avoid using "collect from" when a more specific verb like 'extract', 'gather', or 'obtain' would provide a clearer and more precise meaning. For example, instead of "collect information from the document", consider "extract information from the document".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collect from" functions as a transitive verb phrase where 'collect' is the verb and 'from' introduces the source or origin. This describes an action of obtaining something from a specified entity, as evidenced by Ludwig and its numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "collect from" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to indicate gathering or receiving something from a specific source. As verified by Ludwig AI, it is correct and widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. To ensure clarity, it's best practice to explicitly mention the source from which something is being collected. While "collect from" is generally acceptable, consider more specific alternatives like "gather from" or "extract from" when precision is needed. With its frequent usage and straightforward meaning, "collect from" remains a useful phrase in a writer's toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gather from

Focuses more on assembling or accumulating from multiple sources.

obtain from

Implies a more formal or deliberate process of getting something.

retrieve from

Suggests recovering something that was previously stored or lost.

extract from

Indicates carefully removing something from a larger entity or source.

acquire from

Emphasizes gaining possession of something.

secure from

Highlights the effort involved in obtaining something, often implying competition or difficulty.

take from

A more general term for getting something from a source, which can sometimes imply a lack of permission depending on context.

derive from

Implies that something originates or is developed from a source.

garner from

Often used in contexts where information or support is gradually accumulated.

accumulate from

Indicates gradually gathering or increasing the quantity of something from a source.

FAQs

How can I use "collect from" in a sentence?

You can use "collect from" to indicate gathering something from a specific source, such as "We need to collect the payments from our clients" or "Researchers collect data from various studies".

What's the difference between "collect from" and "gather from"?

"Collect from" implies a more directed action of obtaining something, while "gather from" often suggests assembling items from various places into one location.

What are some alternatives to "collect from"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "obtain from", "retrieve from", or "extract from" as alternatives to "collect from".

Is it better to say "collect data from" or "gather data from"?

Both "collect data from" and "gather data from" are acceptable, but "collect data from" is often preferred in more formal or technical contexts because it sounds more purposeful.