fill out a list

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fill out a list" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when instructing someone to complete or provide information on a list format, such as in forms or surveys. Example: "Please fill out a list of your favorite books and authors for our reading club."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

After logging on, I was prompted to fill out a list of my "haves" and "wants".

Forbes

For casual news consumers, this is an easier way to personalize news as it doesn't require you painstakingly fill out a list of "categories" you want to follow.

TechCrunch

Now, in this year-end season of "Best Of" linkbait articles, it would simply be routine for me to list out "The Best Mobile Shopping Apps of 2013 (Besides Amazon and eBay)." The only problem with this approach, however, is that I'm not confident enough native apps exist to actually fill out a list.

TechCrunch

From there, they basically grasped at straws to fill out a list, co-opting mainstream opinion (Josef Stalin was bad! The Berlin Wall sucked!) as exclusively conservative and recasting liberal sentiment ("Gloria", "I Fought The Law") as its opposite, after repeated blows to the head.

Huffington Post

Finally, the respondents were asked to fill out a list of health symptoms.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Fill out a list of past medical history and current symptoms or any health issues.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

So the classical music critics of The New York Times had little difficulty in once again filling out a list of 25 records, as fine a lot as in many a boom year.

The New York Times - Arts

Data Dependent™ Acquisition scheme allowed to fill out a tentative list of potential peptide markers, which were further filtered upon fulfilling specific requirements.

Journal of Chromatography A

Upon graduation from high school, students fill out a form listing their top three career choices, but everyone knows it is nothing more than a formality.

The Guardian

When Officer Planakis joined the department in 1994 he had to fill out a form listing his areas of interest and expertise, and he put beekeeping — a skill learned from his father — at the top of the list "New York City provides endless places that make great hives," he says.

The New York Times

Most states require you to fill out a petition listing your reasons for wanting to change your name.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to provide information, use "fill out a list" to clearly indicate that they should complete each item on the list with the necessary details.

Common error

Avoid using "fill out a list" when you mean to create a list from scratch. In such cases, use phrases like "compile a list" or "generate a list" to better reflect the action of creating something new, not just adding to an existing structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fill out a list" functions as a verb phrase instructing the user to complete a list by providing the necessary information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a valid and commonly used construction in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fill out a list" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that instructs someone to complete a list. It's versatile and applicable across diverse settings, from news articles to scientific surveys, as demonstrated by Ludwig. While generally neutral, consider the specific context when choosing alternative phrasings like "complete a list" or "populate a list". As Ludwig AI suggests, it's a clear and effective way to ask someone to provide information in a structured format.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complete a list

Replaces "fill out" with "complete", emphasizing finishing the list rather than adding information.

populate a list

Replaces "fill out" with "populate", suggesting adding items to make the list full or complete.

compile a list

Focuses on gathering and arranging items to create the list, rather than just filling it.

draw up a list

Emphasizes the creation of the list, often implying a careful or formal process.

make up a list

Suggests creating the list from scratch, potentially with some creativity or improvisation.

write out a list

Focuses on the physical act of writing the list.

add to a list

Implies that a list already exists and items are being appended to it.

flesh out a list

Suggests adding details or making a list more comprehensive.

itemize a list

Focuses on creating a list with individual, distinct items.

detail a list

Highlights the provision of detailed information within the list.

FAQs

How do I use "fill out a list" in a sentence?

Use "fill out a list" when instructing someone to complete a pre-existing list with information. For example, "Please "fill out a list" of your preferred contact methods."

What's the difference between "fill out a list" and "make a list"?

"Fill out a list" implies completing an existing list, while "make a list" means creating a new list from scratch.

What can I say instead of "fill out a list"?

Alternatives include "complete a list", "populate a list", or "compile a list", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "fill out a list" formal or informal?

"Fill out a list" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, consider your audience and the specific situation when choosing your wording.