compile a report

USAGE SUMMARY

"compile a report" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in a work setting when asking an employee to put together a report, or in an academic setting when asking a student to gather and organize data from a specific project. For example: "I need you to compile a report on the data we gathered from the experiment by the end of this week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Mr Starr's task is to compile a report for Congress on the case against the president.

The Economist

Officers continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death in order to compile a report for the coroner.

The Guardian

As war plunged more families into poverty social reformer William Beveridge was commissioned by the government to compile a report.

The Guardian

I asked the company, which agreed to compile a report of my "taste profile" and talk me through it.

The Guardian - Tech

The coroner's office initially said it would take weeks to compile a report that would include results of an autopsy performed on Mr. Scott's body.

The New York Times

A few months later, the UN managed to compile a report anyway, based on testimonies of UN officials, private relief organisations, and others, with no Israeli input.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Pierre Creisson, a cameraman, and Thomas Dandois, a reporter, who were compiling a report for the French-German television network Arte, have been held in a Niger prison since they were arrested Dec. 17 near the northern town of Iferouane.

The New York Times

Swartz had already compiled a report about the relation between candidates' wealth and their electoral success.

The Guardian - Tech

Cass compiled a report for prosecutors, who decided against charging any officer over the death.

The Guardian

Another segment shows Alia being invited to join a fractious committee compiling a report on education and equality.

The Guardian

The committee is still compiling a report based on more than 3,000 responses to a survey last summer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to "compile a report", provide clear guidelines on the scope, format, and deadline to ensure the final product meets your expectations.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by specifying the exact data sources needed to "compile a report". This ensures the report is based on reliable and relevant information, preventing inaccuracies and wasted effort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compile a report" functions as a verb phrase, where "compile" is the verb and "a report" is the direct object. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "compile a report" is a grammatically sound and very common instruction or description for gathering and organizing information into a structured document. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. It is used most frequently in news and media, science, and formal business settings. When using the phrase, ensure clarity in your instructions regarding scope, format and data sources. Alternatives include "draft a report" and "prepare a report", each with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

draft a report

Focuses on the initial writing or creation of the report, suggesting a preliminary version.

prepare a report

Highlights the actions taken to get the report ready, including gathering data and organizing information.

put together a report

Emphasizes the act of assembling the report from different components or pieces of information.

write up a report

Emphasizes the writing aspect of creating the report, focusing on the detailed documentation.

assemble a report

Suggests gathering information from different sources to create a comprehensive document.

compose a report

Implies carefully crafting and structuring the report in a formal and organized manner.

generate a report

Suggests using a system or software to automatically produce the report.

draw up a report

Focuses on the planning and outlining stages of report creation.

develop a report

Highlights the process of creating and expanding the report, often with detailed analysis.

formulate a report

Emphasizes the careful and methodical creation of the report based on specific guidelines.

FAQs

How can I use "compile a report" in a sentence?

You can use "compile a report" when you need to gather and organize information into a structured document. For example, "The analyst was asked to compile a report on the company's sales figures."

What is the difference between "compile a report" and "write a report"?

"Compile a report" emphasizes gathering and organizing existing information, while "write a report" focuses more on creating original content and analysis. You "compile a report" from data, but you might "write a report" based on your own research and insights.

What can I say instead of "compile a report"?

You can use alternatives like "draft a report", "prepare a report", or "put together a report" depending on the context.

Is it better to "compile data" or "collect data" before writing a report?

"Collect data" refers to gathering raw information, while "compile data" means organizing it. You typically collect data first and then compile it into a usable format for your report.