find settlements

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "find settlements" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to locating or discovering places where people live or have established communities, often in legal or financial discussions. Example: "The archaeologists were excited to find settlements that dated back thousands of years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Meanwhile, barnacles and oyster larvae use them to find settlements, hermit crabs to track down new shells.

The Guardian

"This suggests that we will find settlements all along that submerged coast," Dr. Hiebert said, indicating that this might support the Ryan-Pitman hypothesis of an enormous flood.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

German invaders found settlements in the early 5th century and began the era of Anglo-Saxon England. Anglo-Saxon England

Encyclopedia Britannica

French colonists, like the Dutch, were assisted by their home government with provisions and equipment to found settlements.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The expeditions would usually found settlements en route, build roads, and lay the basis for agriculture and ranching in the interior.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Elsie wrote two children's books about courageous young Jewish heroes who risk their lives fighting evil Arabs to found settlements in Israel.

The New Yorker

After Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821, Stephen Austin a friend of Seguín's father received Mexican approval to found settlements of English-speaking people in the Mexican territory of Texas.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The BSAC sought to further expand its influence north of the Zambezi, and to that end regularly sent expeditions into what was dubbed North-Eastern Rhodesia to negotiate concessions with local rulers and found settlements.

Wikipedia

Within its pages, you will find the settlements and the "security" wall.

The Guardian - Books

On the edges of every town you'll find shanty settlements with cramped shacks built from wood and corrugated iron that are home to millions of poor blacks.

The Guardian - Travel

Everybody agreed that for now ASEAN should be allowed to try to find a settlement, which left aside the question of what such a settlement might look like.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about archaeological discoveries or historical explorations, using "find settlements" effectively conveys the sense of uncovering past civilizations. Be mindful of the context and ensure the verb accurately reflects the nature of the discovery, whether it was intentional or accidental.

Common error

Avoid using "find settlements" when the context implies building or establishing new communities. "Find" suggests discovering something already existing, so use verbs like "establish" or "create" for new settlements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "find settlements" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "find" is the main verb and "settlements" is its direct object. This indicates the action of locating or discovering existing inhabited areas. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "find settlements" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe the act of locating or discovering inhabited areas. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and utility. It's most commonly found in neutral contexts such as news reports, encyclopedias, and scientific discussions. While not very frequent, the phrase effectively conveys the process of uncovering or locating existing communities. When employing this phrase, be mindful of the intended meaning, distinguishing between discovering pre-existing settlements versus establishing new ones, and consider using synonyms like "locate settlements" or "discover settlements" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

locate settlements

Replaces "find" with a more formal synonym, "locate", emphasizing the act of pinpointing the settlements' positions.

identify settlements

Focuses on the process of recognizing and classifying specific locations as settlements.

discover settlements

Shifts the focus to uncovering previously unknown settlements, implying an element of surprise or historical significance.

uncover settlements

Similar to 'discover', but suggests a more deliberate effort to reveal settlements that are hidden or obscured.

establish settlements

Emphasizes the creation and founding of new settlements rather than just locating existing ones.

track down settlements

Emphasizes the effort and persistence required to locate settlements, often suggesting they are difficult to find.

detect settlements

Implies the use of specific methods or technologies to identify the presence of settlements, such as archaeological surveys.

spot settlements

Suggests a more casual or observational discovery of settlements, without necessarily involving extensive research or planning.

come across settlements

Indicates a chance encounter with settlements, implying an unplanned or unexpected discovery.

pioneer settlements

Changes the focus to the action of starting the settlement. Implies initiating.

FAQs

How can I use "find settlements" in a sentence?

You can use "find settlements" in contexts where you're talking about discovering or locating existing communities. For example, "Archaeologists hope to find settlements dating back to the Bronze Age."

What can I say instead of "find settlements"?

You can use alternatives like "locate settlements", "discover settlements", or "establish settlements" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "find settlements" or "found settlements"?

"Find settlements" implies locating existing communities, while "found settlements" means to create or establish new ones. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning. See also: "establish settlements".

What's the difference between "discover settlements" and "find settlements"?

"Discover settlements" suggests uncovering previously unknown or hidden communities, while "find settlements" is a more general term for locating them, whether they were known or not. See also: "discover settlements".