corpus

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "corpus" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use the word "corpus" to describe a collection of written or spoken material, typically in a particular language, used for successful natural language processing or machine learning experiments. For example, "The linguistics department is conducting a machine learning experiment using a large corpus of data from the National Library of Congress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

In the past year, binge-watching chalked up almost as much evidence on our corpus as binge-eating.

The Guardian - Books

The first references to the bedroom tax in our corpus appear in 2011 but usage increased dramatically around the time this new provision came into force, in April 2013.

The Guardian - Books

[ORIGIN early 21st century: from SHOWROOM, "a room used to display goods for sale".] Before 2013, there were just a handful of examples of this on our corpus.

The Guardian - Books

Also on Wednesday, after a flurry of legal challenges, more than 100 people were freed from police custody, having been been held since Monday under what amounted to a suspension by Hogan of the writ of habeas corpus – the right to be released from an arrest made without lawful cause.

The Guardian

I was in America a lot and I was getting extremely, honestly, pissed off that habeas corpus was suspended as far as the Americans were concerned.

The Guardian - Music

"There are several irregularities, but a fundamental point is that a previous release order of habeus corpus was still in place, and my client was respecting its conditions, so it should have taken precedence over the second detainment order.

The Guardian - Sport

Related: Baltimore: hail of habeas corpus petitions leads to release of riot suspects Natalie Finegar, the deputy district public defender in Baltimore City, told the Guardian that after 82 habeas corpus petitions were filed to the attorney general's office, a decision was made to release those who were yet to have charges read against them.

The Guardian

But for this to happen the entire Islamic legacy sacred corpus and all must be subjected to rigorous intellectual analysis, much like when Judeo-Christian traditions were scrutinised by the probing questions of Enlightenment thinkers.

The Economist

When the activists claimed this meant that the chimps have legal rights, the judge struck the habeas corpus term from her order.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Education: Haverstock Comprehensive, PPE undergraduate at Corpus Christi College, Oxford University, economics master's at London School of Economics.

The Guardian

Zeynab and her cohort have spent the past three days at Corpus Christi College.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing large collections of data for linguistic analysis, use "corpus" to denote a structured and representative sample of language.

Common error

Avoid using "corpus" when you mean "corps" (a military unit) or "corpse" (a dead body). "Corpus" specifically refers to a body of text or data.

Linguistic Context

The term "corpus" functions primarily as a noun. It is used to denote a body of text or a collection of data, especially in linguistic and legal contexts. The examples provided by Ludwig show its usage across various domains like books, news, and academic discussions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "corpus" functions as a noun referring to a body of text or data, commonly used in linguistic and legal contexts. According to Ludwig, the term is grammatically correct and appears frequently in sources like The Economist and The Guardian. The analysis indicates a primarily neutral to formal register. While "corpus" is mostly used in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business contexts, related phrases include "body of text" and "data set", depending on the specific nuance required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

body of text

Focuses on the textual aspect of a collection, emphasizing written content.

data set

Emphasizes the structured and organized nature of the information.

collection of writings

Highlights the literary nature of the assembled works.

compilation of sources

Stresses the gathering and assembling of different resources.

linguistic database

Specifically refers to a structured collection used in linguistic analysis.

textual archive

Highlights the preservation and historical aspect of the collection.

digital library

Emphasizes the accessibility and format of the collected materials.

knowledge base

Focuses on the aspect of organized information designed to be easily searchable.

assemblage of data

Focuses on the act of gathering the data rather than the collection itself.

pool of information

Implies a less structured and readily available collection of knowledge.

FAQs

How is "corpus" used in linguistics?

In linguistics, a "corpus" refers to a large and structured set of texts (nowadays usually electronic) used for statistical analysis and hypothesis testing, such as the British National Corpus.

What's the difference between a "corpus" and a library?

A library is a general collection of books and other media, while a "corpus" is specifically designed for linguistic research, often containing texts selected and annotated for specific features.

Which contexts commonly use the term "corpus"?

The term "corpus" is often used in academic research, computational linguistics, and legal contexts, referring to collections of data or legal writings.

What can I say instead of "corpus"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "body of text", "data set", or "collection of writings".