distinct items

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "distinct items" is correct and can be used in written English.
It refers to separate or individual things that are different from each other. Example: The grocery store sells a variety of distinct items, such as fresh produce, canned goods, and household essentials.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

It performed far better than any previous effort by roughly doubling its accuracy in recognizing objects in a challenging list of 20,000 distinct items.

The New York Times - Tech

In a detailed study in 2005, the consulting firm Lewin Group noted that hospital chargemasters may contain anywhere from 12,000 to 45,000 distinct items, depending on the hospital.

The New York Times

Although Joseph G. Zwilling, the spokesman for the archdiocese, said yesterday that the budget deficit and the contract talks were "two separate and distinct items," some union leaders bitterly suggested that Cardinal Egan was more interested in meeting the financial bottom line than in ensuring quality education.

The New York Times

Every copy of Hodgson and Cohen's book, which includes essays and images, comes inside an inlaid wooden box with its own distinct items, such as a cast of a Russian countess's finger, a porcupine quill, a sea urchin's skeleton, and Roman coins from Syria.

The New Yorker

7. Let (I ) be a set of distinct items.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

Table 3 Database characteristics (http://www.ics.uci.edu/~mlearn) Databases #FS #Distinct items Aver.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

The mechanism employs an item bidding interface, where every agent issues a separate bid for the inclusion of each distinct item in the outcome; the k items with the highest sums of bids are then chosen.

Theoretical Computer Science

Gossiping is an extensively investigated information dissemination process in which each processor has a distinct item of information and has to collect all the items possessed by the other processors.

Information and Computation

We hypothesized that the effect of gender bias at the level of distinct item design features could lead to either an over- or underestimation of reported effect sizes of the gender difference in three-dimensional mental rotation.

Intelligence

However, although the human nature in Socrates is a numerically distinct item from the human nature in Plato, insofar as it is human nature, it is formally, in fact, specifically the same nature, for it is human nature, and not another, specifically different, say, feline or canine nature.

SEP

Going forward, we evaluated the pain, stiffness and sleep functioning questions as three distinct item sets.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing collections, use "distinct items" to clearly indicate that the items are not identical or interchangeable, enhancing clarity and precision.

Common error

Avoid using "distinct items" when a simple adjective like "different" or "various" suffices. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or verbose. Choose the simplest, clearest option to communicate effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "distinct items" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where 'distinct' acts as an adjective modifying the noun 'items'. This phrase is used to describe a collection or set of things that are clearly differentiated from each other, as supported by Ludwig AI's analysis.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

22%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "distinct items" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe a collection of separate and differentiated things. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is correct and suitable for use in written English. The phrase is most frequently found in scientific and news contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. While "distinct items" is a useful phrase, it's important to consider the context and choose the most appropriate and concise wording. Alternatives such as "unique elements" or "separate entities" may be more fitting depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to avoid overusing the phrase in simple lists where more basic adjectives could suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unique elements

Focuses on the uniqueness of the items, emphasizing their individuality.

separate entities

Emphasizes the independent existence of each item.

individual objects

Highlights the singularity and object-like nature of the items.

discrete units

Stresses the separateness and quantifiable nature of the items.

differentiated objects

Emphasizes the act of distinguishing the items from one another.

dissimilar elements

Highlights the lack of similarity among the items.

unrelated entities

Stresses the absence of a connection or relationship between the items.

independent components

Focuses on the role of the items as parts of a larger system, each functioning autonomously.

discrete particulars

Emphasizes the specific and individual nature of each item, highlighting their clear boundaries.

diverse articles

Highlights the variety and range of different types of items.

FAQs

How can I use "distinct items" in a sentence?

You can use "distinct items" to describe a collection of objects or concepts that are recognizably different from one another. For instance, "The museum showcased a collection of "unique elements" from various historical periods."

What's the difference between "distinct items" and "different items"?

"Distinct items" emphasizes the clear separation and recognizability of each item as unique. "Different items" simply implies that the items are not the same, without necessarily highlighting their individual uniqueness. Using "separate entities" can similarly emphasize their independence.

Are there any contexts where using "distinct items" is inappropriate?

While grammatically correct, "distinct items" may sound overly formal or technical in casual conversation. In such contexts, simpler terms like "different things" or "various articles" might be more suitable.

What can I say instead of "distinct items"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "unique elements", "separate entities", or "individual objects" to convey a similar meaning.