do an inventory

USAGE SUMMARY

"do an inventory" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it when discussing the process of taking stock or counting all the items in a particular location or situation. Example: The store manager asked me to do an inventory of all the products on the shelves before the end of the month.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

So we need to do an inventory and put a value on it.

The New York Times

I do an inventory each month, then do a major shop.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Once inside, he will take photographs and do an inventory of the plane's equipment for the bank.

The New York Times

The mayor has asked all city agencies to do an inventory of their permits by the end of next month.

The New York Times

Met with staff from NHLT at the Oasis on Friday in order to do an inventory of the site's survivals.

Yale University

At dawn, when the light would allow photographs, I pulled myself onto the roof and had several minutes to do an inventory.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Begin by doing an inventory of your skills and experience.

Harvard University

"Were doing an inventory now, but that's a conservative estimate," Mr. Jepsen said.

The New York Times

There are a few methods to go about doing an inventory.

Princeton University

Nothing appeared disturbed or missing from the office, however; instructors are doing an inventory of their offices.

Columbia University

I busied myself putting away food, inspecting the systems that would provide us with light and water and doing an inventory on the available technology.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "do an inventory" in business contexts, clearly define the scope of the inventory (e.g., "do an inventory of all office equipment") to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "do an inventory" when you actually intend to describe a formal audit. An inventory is a simple count, while an audit involves verification and validation of records.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "do an inventory" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "do" acts as the main verb and "an inventory" serves as its direct object. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it describes the action of creating a detailed list.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

24%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Science

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "do an inventory" is a very common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the process of creating a comprehensive list of items or resources. According to Ludwig, it is widely accepted and utilized across varied contexts, including news, academia, business, and even general guides like WikiHow. The phrase functions as a verb phrase and aims to either instruct, describe, or report on this action. While the phrase is not overly formal, it leans towards professional and is suitable for neutral communication. Related phrases include "conduct an assessment", "take stock of", and "compile a list", offering similar ways to convey the concept of evaluating resources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conduct an assessment

Replaces 'inventory' with 'assessment', emphasizing evaluation over simple counting.

take stock of

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey the idea of reviewing and evaluating resources or situations.

make an evaluation of

Substitutes 'inventory' with 'evaluation', focusing on judgment and appraisal.

carry out a review

Emphasizes a formal examination and appraisal, rather than a simple count.

perform a check

Highlights the verification aspect, implying a thorough examination of items or processes.

undertake a survey

Focuses on gathering information or data systematically.

compile a list

Highlights the creation of a detailed record of items.

catalogue resources

Replaces 'inventory' with 'catalogue', focusing on the systematic arrangement of resources.

itemize assets

Uses 'itemize' to emphasize the listing of individual assets or items.

audit possessions

Focuses on a formal examination and verification of possessions.

FAQs

What does "do an inventory" mean?

To "do an inventory" means to make a detailed list of all the items in a particular place or all the stock held by a business. It involves counting and cataloging resources for record-keeping or assessment.

How can I use "do an inventory" in a sentence?

You can use "do an inventory" like this: "Before we move offices, we need to "take stock of" all our equipment." or "The store manager asked employees to "perform a check" of all the items on the shelves."

What are some alternatives to "do an inventory"?

Alternatives to "do an inventory" include "conduct an assessment", "take stock of", or "compile a list", depending on the specific context and the level of detail required.

Is it more appropriate to say "do an inventory" or "perform an inventory"?

Both "do an inventory" and "perform an inventory" are grammatically correct and commonly used. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific context, with "perform an inventory" sounding slightly more formal.