collecting

USAGE SUMMARY

The word ‘collecting’ is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to the process of gathering items together, typically because they are of a particular interest to you. For example, “My hobby is collecting vintage cars.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The rules do allow, however, for former employees collecting retirement benefits to serve as independent directors.

The New York Times

President Obama appears to be collecting a lion's share of votes cast by early voters in Ohio.

The Guardian

After collecting 25 points from 36 since taking charge of Palace Pardew has no such concerns.

The Guardian - Sport

But for me, and those younger, collecting was effortless, the music was simply there.

The Guardian - Books

The camera can also be downgraded, removing features, or, if a malicious third party gets sufficient access, the app can be turned against you, secretly taking pictures and/or videos and collecting data.

The Guardian - Opinion

"But what about what's above it?" Wise and others spent years drawing up their submission to the IDA, collecting reams of light readings and stitching together an alliance of local councils, parks' bodies and community groups to produce an exterior lighting master plan that influences the construction of new developments in the area.

The Guardian

"Although vast sums of money are spent collecting migration and border control data, very few agencies collect and publish data on migrant deaths," said Frank Laczko, the author of Fatal Journeys, and IOM's director of migrant research division.

The Guardian

Oh year, and well done Greenpeace for collecting lots and lots of money.

The Guardian

Yet the USA Freedom Act only bars the use of section 215 for collecting US phone data in bulk.

The Guardian

Around 60% of the favela's residents earn a living from collecting cardboard on the streets, and much of the construction material comes from their daily rounds, which fan outwards from the neighbourhood of Bom Retiro at one end and Campos Elíseos – São Paulo's run-down 'Champs Élysées', with its itinerant, open-air crack zone known as Cracolândia – at the other.

The Guardian

Armstrong reported that "those concerned are exercising vigilance for any indications of movements of NUM staff to foreign destinations which might be for the purpose of collecting consignments of notes".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing hobbies, use "collecting" to denote the activity of acquiring items of interest. For example, "He enjoys "collecting" stamps from around the world."

Common error

Avoid using "collecting" as a general noun when a more descriptive term fits better. Instead of saying "His collecting is vast", specify what he collects: "His "stamp collection" is vast."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "collecting" is that of a present participle or gerund. As a present participle, it forms part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., "They are collecting samples"). As a gerund, it functions as a noun (e.g., "Collecting stamps is his hobby").Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "collecting" functions primarily as a present participle or gerund, denoting the action of gathering. Ludwig AI confirms that "collecting" is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, particularly within News & Media. While generally neutral in register, it's important to choose more specific terms when describing the nature of the collection to avoid ambiguity (e.g., "stamp collection" instead of just "collecting"). Its widespread usage and clear grammatical status make "collecting" a reliable and versatile term in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gathering

Emphasizes the act of bringing things together from different places.

accumulating

Highlights the gradual increase in quantity over time.

assembling

Suggests a more organized or structured form of gathering.

compiling

Focuses on gathering information or data systematically.

amassing

Implies gathering a large quantity or amount.

hoarding

Suggests keeping a large quantity of something, often secretly or excessively.

garnering

Indicates obtaining or acquiring something, often with effort.

procuring

Emphasizes obtaining something, often through special effort or means.

obtaining

Focuses on the act of getting or acquiring something.

harvesting

Specifically refers to gathering crops or natural resources.

FAQs

How is "collecting" used as a verb?

As a verb, "collecting" describes the action of gathering things together. For example: "She is "collecting" data for her research."

What are some synonyms for "collecting" in the context of gathering data?

In the context of gathering data, you can use synonyms like "compiling", "gathering", or "accumulating" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "collecting" formal or informal?

The term "collecting" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts depending on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.

What is the difference between "collecting" and "hoarding"?

"Collecting" usually implies a purposeful and organized gathering of items, often with an appreciation for their value or significance. "Hoarding", on the other hand, often suggests an excessive and disorganized accumulation, frequently due to psychological factors.