friend company

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "friend company" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to a company of friends or a friendly gathering, but it lacks clarity and proper usage. Example: "I enjoy spending time with my friend company during the weekends."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Nachman didn't want to stay, but he felt he owed his friend company the way convicts owe a debt to society.

The New Yorker

Passionate about Italian food, along with steak, chops and sausages from her parents' farm, Mez admitted she was keeping her friend company and hadn't put in a single second's preparation.

The Guardian - Travel

He recounted an incident in which nine officers appeared out of the blue and pulled guns on him as he kept a friend company during a smoke break in Harlem.

Huffington Post

One good option for keeping your friend company is to have her over for a good cup of tea and a movie of her choice.

WikiHow

Your friend can fall in love with a new range of movies, and you can keep your friend company while you watch.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

We wanted our friends' company, not their cash.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I'm just keeping my friends company," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

A jazz album is called "Louis Armstrong and " (Friends? Company? His All-Zither Band?).

The New York Times - Tech

She was joined onstage for the final curtain calls by friends, company administrators, dancers from the performance, other partners and former partners.

The New York Times - Arts

Sylla, meanwhile, says she only went to the Girlhood audition to keep some friends company, but it has launched her on a flourishing career.

The Guardian - Film

"Six of my friends' companies have been audited specifically around 1099s," she said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a group of friends, use more common phrases like "group of friends" or "gathering of friends" for clarity.

Common error

Don't use "friend company" to describe a business owned by a friend; instead, say "a friend's business" or "company of a friend".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "friend company" functions primarily as a noun phrase, attempting to describe an association or entity. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is considered not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "friend company" is considered grammatically incorrect and lacks clarity in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, it's better to use alternatives like "group of friends" when referring to a social circle or "friend's business" when referring to an enterprise owned by a friend. Although some sources, as shown by Ludwig, use the phrase, adopting more common and precise language is recommended for clarity and effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

group of friends

Replaces "company" with a more common term for a collection of friends.

friends' gathering

Substitutes "company" with "gathering", emphasizing a social event among friends.

circle of friends

Uses "circle" to denote a close-knit group of friends.

friend's business

Refers to a business owned by a friend, shifting the focus to a commercial entity.

friendly association

Replaces both words to convey a general sense of companionship and connection.

mate's companionship

Uses the informal term "mate" and emphasizes the aspect of companionship.

pal's firm

Employs slang ("pal") and the term "firm" to indicate a business owned by a friend.

buddy's enterprise

Uses the informal term "buddy" and "enterprise" to indicate a venture owned by a friend.

associate's organization

Replaces friend with a more neutral "associate" and company with organization.

comrade's collective

Suggests a more formal or ideologically aligned group.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "friend company" in a sentence?

While not grammatically standard, "friend company" can be used to describe a group of friends. However, it's clearer to use phrases like "group of friends" or "gathering of friends".

What's a better way to say "friend company"?

Instead of "friend company", consider using alternatives like "group of friends", "circle of friends", or "friend's business" depending on the context.

Is "friend company" grammatically correct?

The phrase "friend company" is not grammatically standard and may cause confusion. It's advisable to use more established phrases such as "group of friends" or "friend's business".

When should I use "friend company" vs. "friend's company"?

Use "friend's company" to refer to a business owned by a friend. The phrase "friend company" is not recommended due to lack of clarity; consider "group of friends" instead if that's what you mean.