crew

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "crew" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a group of people working together on the same task. For example, "The film crew worked hard to get the movie finished on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It'll be my first proper movie, with lots of cameras and a big crew," Meadows told me.

The Guardian - Film

The flight's crew included four air stewards and the captain, Patrick Sonderheimer, whose attempts to enter the cockpit by hammering on the door and appealing to Lubitz to "open the damned door" were heard on the cockpit voice recorder.

The Guardian

We stand together, carried along by the same planet, the crew of a single ship.

The Guardian - Books

Rescuers were reportedly able to save 63 crew members, many of them suffering from hypothermia after being in the near-freezing water.

The Guardian

To raise wages to $15 an hour, Aunt Mary's Cafe instituted a 15% service charge, 60% of which goes to the servers while 40% to the kitchen crew.

The Guardian - Business

A crew from the Chiswick RNLI station were passing along the river when they noticed the Oxford boat was in difficulties.

The Guardian - Sport

Even though three out of the five characters are disabled, Kill Me Now is a play with a cast, crew and writer without any disabilities.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Secrets of Vesuvius (The Roman Mysteries) by Caroline Lawrence Young history buffs will realise they're in for an exciting explosion when Flavia and her Roman Mysteries crew visit her uncle in Pompeii... in AD79.

The Guardian

He was not disappointed: "You have to go through that to be effective as a manager (you cannot reasonably ask anyone to do something you would not)." But he left when he was also placed on crew wages, "which was not enough for me to survive on at the time – which is why I left.

The Guardian - Money

I found a secret database that tracked 30 years of leaks – software, music, movies – from every major piracy crew, dating back to 1982.

The Guardian - Books

A century and a half later — and nearly a decade and a half after the sub was raised – just why the Hunley and its eight-man crew never returned is a mystery, albeit one that scientists may be closer to resolving.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "crew", ensure the context clearly indicates the group's specific role or function, such as a film crew, ship's crew, or construction crew. This adds precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "crew" when referring to a general audience or diverse population. "Crew" implies a shared purpose or workplace, so using a more inclusive term like "team", "group", or "personnel" is more appropriate in broader contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "crew" is as a noun, referring to a group of people working together, especially in a specialized context like a ship, aircraft, or film production. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

15%

Film

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "crew" is a versatile noun used to describe a group of individuals working together, often in specialized fields. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability. It's frequently found in News & Media, Sport, Film, and Formal & Business contexts. While "crew" is generally neutral in register, understanding its specific connotations helps ensure precise and effective communication. Related phrases like "team", "staff", and "personnel" can offer alternative ways to express similar concepts. When writing, remember to use "crew" to describe a set of people working together and not with general audience or diverse population.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

team

Replaces "crew" with a more general term for a group working towards a common goal.

staff

Substitutes "crew" with a term emphasizing the personnel of an organization.

personnel

Formal alternative to "crew", indicating the workforce.

workforce

Emphasizes the labor aspect of the group, similar to "crew".

group

A broader term that can replace "crew" in many contexts.

company

Refers to a group of people, especially when gathered together.

squad

Similar to crew, but typically refers to a small, specialized team.

gang

An informal alternative, suitable in specific contexts.

posse

Informal term for a group of associates or friends.

unit

Term that refers to a specific grouping of individuals for a task.

FAQs

How can I use "crew" in a sentence?

You can use "crew" to refer to a group of people working together, such as "The film crew worked long hours" or "The ship's crew prepared for departure".

What are some alternatives to "crew"?

Alternatives to "crew" include "team", "staff", "group", or "personnel", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "crew" and "team"?

"Crew" typically implies a group working in a specific occupation or setting, such as a ship or film set, while "team" is a more general term for any group working together toward a common goal.

When is it appropriate to use "crew" instead of "staff"?

Use "crew" when referring to a group working on a specific task or operation, like a flight or construction, whereas "staff" usually refers to employees of an organization.