combined

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "combined" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to two or more things being put together to form a whole. For example, "The combined efforts of the two teams resulted in a successful project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Fox's pledge to maintain Britain's ability to wage war unilaterally, cooperate with France while snubbing the EU's defence agency, cutting Whitehall staff and reforming wasteful procurement (again) does not sound like tough realism, especially when combined with Cameron's gimmicky "war cabinet" and national security adviser approach.

The Guardian - Opinion

If fewer homes were built by the private sector, housing associations and local authorities combined, the government would step in.

The Guardian

A typical combined salary for a WSL player also on one of 27 "central" England contracts is around £45,000 per annum – peanuts compared to their male peers but an infinite improvement on the £5 match fees commonly paid by leading clubs only a couple of decades ago.

The Guardian - Sport

This question arose at Words and Wickets, a splendid day at Wormsley that combined cricket and literature into a potent draft.

The Guardian - Sport

Shot economically on location, the film has a wonderful freshness, combined with a dark humour and directness that engaged audiences.

The Guardian

The wealthiest 10% of households in Britain own 44% of total household wealth, while the least wealthy half of households combined owned just 9%, according to the latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics ONSS).

The Guardian

The winner came midway through the second half when Liam Boyce and Michael Gardyne combined on the right, and when Gardyne swung over the cross to the back post Jamie Reckord was free to steer the ball into the empty net.

The Guardian - Sport

The Heysham 1 and Hartlepool nuclear plants have a combined capacity of about 2.4 gigawatts (GW) and are out of action at a time when part of the 2GW Ferrybridge coal-fired station is also temporarily closed down due to a fire.

The Guardian

The river is bigger in volume than its six nearest rivals combined and discharges into the ocean about 20% of the total freshwater of all the rivers in the world.

The Guardian

Too much immigration and too little integration have, they suggest, combined to erode social cohesion, undermine national identity and corrode public trust.

The Guardian - Opinion

The current strength of the pound against the euro, combined with low mortgage rates, has led to a resurgence of interest among Brits in the French property market.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing "combined" as a verb, ensure the subject performs the action of combining (e.g., "They combined their resources").

Common error

Avoid using "combined" as a standalone noun. It typically functions as a verb or adjective. Instead of saying "The combined was successful", specify what was combined, such as "The combined effort was successful".

Linguistic Context

The word "combined" primarily functions as a past participle or adjective, indicating a state of being joined or mixed. It's used to describe the result of combining multiple elements, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Sport

16%

Lifestyle

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "combined" is a versatile term used both as a verb and an adjective to indicate the merging of multiple elements. As Ludwig highlights, it frequently appears in News & Media, Sport, and Lifestyle contexts. Its grammatical status is correct and it is very common. When writing, ensure that "combined" is used correctly as an adjective modifying a noun or as a verb where the subject performs the action of combining. Alternatives include "merged", "integrated", and "united". Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate and frequent usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

merged

Focuses on the act of two or more things blending into one.

integrated

Emphasizes the seamless incorporation of different parts into a whole.

united

Stresses the joining together of entities for a common purpose.

mixed

Highlights the blending of different components.

blended

Suggests a smooth and thorough mixing of elements.

fused

Implies a strong and permanent union of elements.

incorporated

Focuses on including something as part of a larger whole.

consolidated

Highlights the strengthening and unification of resources or entities.

amalgamated

Refers to the merging of multiple entities into a single, unified entity.

composited

Suggests the creation of something new by combining different parts.

FAQs

How can I use "combined" in a sentence?

You can use "combined" as a verb (e.g., "They combined their efforts") or as an adjective (e.g., "The combined score was high").

What are some alternatives to the word "combined"?

You can use alternatives like "merged", "integrated", or "united" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "combined efforts" or "combining efforts"?

"Combined efforts" is generally preferred when referring to efforts that have already been joined. "Combining efforts" implies the action of joining efforts is ongoing.

What's the difference between "combined" and "mixed"?

"Combined" suggests bringing distinct entities together, while "mixed" often implies a more thorough blending where the original components are less distinguishable. For example, you might say "combined resources" but "mixed ingredients".