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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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ethos

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The word “ethos” is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the moral character of a person or group. For example, “The company’s ethos was to always put the customer first.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

With events taking place at venues ranging from tiny, niche museums in Orkney and Norfolk to national giants such at the Natural History Museum and the V&A, the founding ethos of the festival is to celebrate the diverse and often quirky cultural landscape of Britain and to give a voice and platform to smaller institutions.

News & Media

The Guardian

Here, the Bond glitz was displaced by Saltzman's other favoured ethos, kitchen sink realism, and some kind of 60s circle was made complete.

The reticent producer cut his teeth running similarly toned, small, dark basement events in Bristol, so he'll be right at home with City Bass's back-to-basics ethos, and his focused, skilful mixing of rarely heard 90s NY house'n'garage with prime UK modernism will put everyone in the right headspace to get down.

Further practical and philosophical advice will be given about the discipline, ethos, and challenges of writing and the literary industry.

News & Media

The Guardian

Or the chic: The Mission's Delfina, with its farm-to-table ethos and queues.

"Universities have developed a therapeutic ethos, where students are no longer seen as confident adults, but as vulnerable," he says.

News & Media

The Guardian

Unless and until we can find a way to bring the entire banking industry back to basics – to really doing God's work and not just talking about it while defending their real business of creating and trading exotic financial securities – and instill in its employees an ethos that it's that mission that is at least as important as the money, we'll keep seeing survey results like this.

The claim is that too much youth service provision is directed at young Bengali men in particular and that too much of that provision is...well, the term "Islamisation" is used, and the complaint is that this goes against what should be a secular ethos in the service.

News & Media

The Guardian

Only a few months out of university and full of youthful idealism, I assured the two man panel that I wanted to work in the NHS because of its public service ethos.

News & Media

The Guardian

My memories are faded but what remains is a picture of a happy, lively household whose ethos was not so far removed from times when children were raised by communities, not individuals.

My colleague Michael Safi, who is also a duel Melbourne/Sydney citizen, says of Tiger: "Even its Melbourne terminal evokes the airline's cheap as chips ethos, providing the bare minimum required of a building, which is to say, shelter.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing an organization's "ethos", be specific about which values are most important and how they are demonstrated in practice.

Common error

Avoid using "ethos" when you specifically mean "ethics". "Ethos" refers to the overall character or spirit, while "ethics" are the moral principles.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

95%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The noun "ethos" functions to describe the characteristic spirit, prevailing tone, or moral nature of a group, organization, or culture. Ludwig AI confirms its use in contexts ranging from organizational values to cultural norms. Examples show it defining the underlying principles that guide behavior.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ethos" is a versatile noun used to describe the fundamental character or spirit of a person, culture, or movement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently used across various contexts. The most common usages appear in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific publications. While related to terms like "ethics" and "values", it holds a broader meaning encompassing the overall prevailing spirit. Remember to be precise in conveying which specific aspects of an "ethos" you're highlighting, and avoid confusing it with mere "ethics". Knowing this should provide you with confidence to effectively use the word in writing.

FAQs

How is the word "ethos" typically used in a sentence?

The word "ethos" is often used to describe the guiding beliefs or values of a person, group, or organization. For example, "The company's "core values" define its ethos."

What are some alternatives to using the word "ethos"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "moral code", "guiding principles", or "organizational culture" instead of "ethos".

Is it correct to use "ethos" and "values" interchangeably?

While related, "ethos" and "values" aren't always interchangeable. "Ethos" refers to the overall character or spirit, while "values" are specific beliefs. The "core values" contribute to the ethos.

What is the difference between "ethos" and "ethics"?

"Ethos" refers to the characteristic spirit or culture of a community, system, or organization. "Ethics", on the other hand, refers to moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity. They can be related, as a group's "ethical framework" would contribute to its ethos.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: