collective masses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "collective masses" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a large group of people or entities acting together or considered as a whole. Example: "The collective masses gathered in the square to voice their concerns about the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Not to rain on the cheer parade, but before you can take your gazillion dollar idea to the collective masses, you'll need to choose a fabulous domain name.

Forbes

Get your boxes of Kleenex ready, because trance legend Dash Berlin is going to make the collective masses cry like a bunch of newborn babies.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This notion demeaned the impact of the great prophecy of a collective mass resurrection, followed by a public mass trial on a gigantic scale.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But that risks shattering what was once a collective mass into a thousand shards, not a society at all but a bunch of niches.

The Guardian - Opinion

The fact that our collective mass has grown considerably of late has inevitably triggered warnings from health professionals about how this may swell our risk of weight-related conditions such as heart disease.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The reports include "collective mass psychosis" in a women's prison on the Chinese border, panic buying of matches, kerosene, sugar and candles, and the building, out of ice, of a Mayan-style archway in Chelyabinsk in the south.

Independent

Inmates in a women's prison near the Chinese border are said to have experienced a "collective mass psychosis" so intense that their wardens summoned a priest to calm them.

The New York Times

The sight of the Class 3 high-vis suits assuages my guilt, and I say to the libertarians: these men are not protected as a collective mass, but as a series of individuals.

The Guardian - Opinion

Curated by Sacha Jenkins, an editor, writer and self-described graffiti historian, and the art collective Mass Appeal, Write of Passage will also offer classes for 12 students of the art form, selected in partnership with youth organizations like Paint Straight and Art Start NYC, along with the School of Visual Arts and others.

The New York Times

This book seeks to understand how and why we should hold leaders responsible for the collective mass atrocities that are committed in times of conflict.

Springer

"What exactly was going on here?" Further observations by lead researcher Cheng-Jiun Ma provided the critical clue: The temperatures of the constituent gas clouds--whose collective mass far outweighs the galaxies--suggested that the researchers were looking at multiple clusters colliding.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "collective masses" to emphasize the combined effect or characteristic of a large group, particularly when their unified action or characteristic is relevant.

Common error

Avoid using "collective masses" when "collective" or "masses" alone suffices. The phrase can sometimes be unnecessarily repetitive. Choose the word that best captures the specific context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collective masses" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to a large group of individuals considered as a single entity. As Ludwig AI reports, the phrase is valid in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "collective masses" is a valid, though relatively rare, way to refer to a large group of people, especially when their unity or combined effect is important. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is acceptable in written English. While grammatically correct, it's important to consider alternatives like "general public" or "mass populace" to avoid redundancy. Its usage spans across news, science, and encyclopedic contexts. When writing, be mindful of the potential for wordiness and choose the most precise term for your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mass populace

Similar, but emphasizes the large number of individuals.

united body

Emphasizes the unity and cohesion of the group.

general public

Focuses on the public at large, omitting the sense of unity.

body of people

A more formal and neutral way to refer to a group of individuals.

community at large

Focuses on the shared interests and connections within a group.

the citizenry

Emphasizes the civic identity of the group.

assembled crowd

Implies a gathering or assembly of people in one place.

aggregate group

More technical, implying a collection of distinct entities.

the rank and file

Refers specifically to the ordinary members of an organization.

overall population

More statistical; it refers to the complete count of individuals within a specified boundary.

FAQs

How can I use "collective masses" in a sentence?

You can use "collective masses" to refer to a large group of people acting together. For example: "The collective masses voiced their opinions on the matter."

What can I say instead of "collective masses"?

You can use alternatives like "general public", "mass populace", or "body of people" depending on the context.

Is "collective masses" redundant?

Sometimes, yes. "Collective" and "masses" both imply a group. Use the phrase only when you want to emphasize both the unified action and the large number of people involved.

What's the difference between "collective masses" and "group of people"?

"Collective masses" suggests a large, undifferentiated group acting together, while "group of people" is a more general term that can refer to smaller, more diverse groups.