formed a posse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "formed a posse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where a group of people comes together for a specific purpose, often related to law enforcement or community action. Example: "After hearing about the recent disturbances in the neighborhood, the residents formed a posse to patrol the streets at night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Wyatt then formed a posse and hunted down the assassins, bringing back no prisoners.

The New York Times

They have formed a posse and even hired a private eye to get them back.

The New York Times

The unnamed officials formed a posse that stormed on stage to hunt and shoot him down.

The New York Times

In a rage, they formed a posse to drive the drug users out of the game.

The New York Times

Almost instantly, the people of Buner, armed with rifles, daggers and pistols, formed a posse, and after five days they cornered and killed their quarry.

The New York Times

The school's director of security, David Santiago, said a group of staff members formed a posse armed with baseball bats to chase lingering looters away hours after the assault.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Actually, there were other classical nerds at my school, but we were too diffident to form a posse.

The New Yorker

When a guard passes another guard he never says, "How are the kids?" And while these guards are far smarter than typical game enemies, they still cannot form a posse and methodically hunt you down.

The New York Times - Tech

Then he would form a posse to hunt down the ewe and its "white lamb", so-called because, having never been gathered in, it consequently has no coloured smit marks nor ear marks to identify it.

The Guardian

Wayne did not work with Hawks again until Rio Bravo (1959), a film born of Hawks's and Wayne's dissatisfaction with the popularity of High Noon (1952), the Gary Cooper western in which citizens of a western community are portrayed as weak-willed and cowardly when their sheriff asks their help in forming a posse.

Britannica

"Until the bond-market vigilantes form a posse again, it's just too easy to ignore this issue," says Alan Blinder, a Princeton University professor and former adviser to Bill Clinton.One way to moderate the political resistance to cutting entitlements and raising taxes is to bypass regular legislative procedures.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "formed a posse", consider the historical context of the American Old West and the implications of vigilantism. Ensure the tone and setting of your writing align with this connotation.

Common error

Avoid using "formed a posse" in contexts where it might romanticize or glorify extrajudicial actions or vigilantism, especially if the situation involves sensitive or controversial issues.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "formed a posse" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the action of creating a group to pursue a particular goal, often related to law enforcement or community action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "formed a posse" is grammatically sound but carries strong historical and contextual connotations rooted in the American Old West. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for describing the act of creating a group to pursue a common goal, especially in situations implying community action or pursuit. While primarily found in News & Media and Wiki sources, its usage should be carefully considered to avoid unintended implications of vigilantism. When necessary, consider using alternatives like "assembled a group" for a more neutral tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assembled a group

Focuses on the act of gathering people together, omitting the implied purpose or historical context.

gathered a team

Implies a more structured and organized group, potentially for a specific task.

organized a search party

Specifically refers to a group formed to look for someone or something.

rallied a band

Suggests a more informal and potentially rebellious gathering.

mustered a force

Implies a group with a degree of power or strength, assembled for a specific action.

convened an assembly

Emphasizes the formal and official nature of bringing people together.

mobilized a unit

Focuses on preparing a group for action or deployment.

recruited a squad

Highlights the process of enlisting or adding members to a group.

initiated a pursuit group

Emphasizes the start of a group with specific purpose of finding someone or something.

created a task force

Highlights the fact that a group was create for a particular problem or task.

FAQs

How can I use "formed a posse" in a sentence?

You can use "formed a posse" to describe a group of people who have come together to pursue someone or something, often outside of official law enforcement channels. For example, "After the bank robbery, the townsfolk "formed a posse" to catch the culprits".

What is a more neutral alternative to "formed a posse"?

If you want to avoid the historical connotations of vigilantism, you can use alternatives like "assembled a group" or "gathered a team", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "formed a posse" in modern contexts?

While "formed a posse" is rooted in the historical context of the American Old West, it can be used metaphorically in modern contexts to describe a group that unites for a common goal. However, be mindful of the potential for misinterpretation or negative connotations.

What's the difference between "formed a posse" and "created a task force"?

"Formed a posse" carries a historical connotation of vigilantism and extrajudicial action, while "created a task force" typically implies a more organized and officially sanctioned group with a specific purpose.