gear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to equipment, tools, or clothing, often in reference to items needed for a specific activity or purpose. Example: "Before we head out for the camping trip, make sure you pack all your gear, including tents and sleeping bags."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Potter said he was studying aerodynamics and aerospace technology and was committed to developing safer gear and flying protocols.

The Guardian

Of the unseen Top Gear footage, Shillinglaw said it would definitely make it on to BBC2 – although not enough had been shot for three full one-hour episodes.

The Guardian

Alex Salmond mocked the "total disintegration" of the no campaign, but day by day, Better Together was moving into gear as business leaders at last began to voice their private concerns about the dangers of independence.

The Guardian

A small central area has shop, internet, laundry, books, snorkelling gear and regulars who gather to shoot the breeze.

The Guardian - Travel

If the gear change is making you feel low, how can you boost your mood?

The Guardian

In addition, the government is looking at what British gear, such as night-vision goggles and body armour, it could send directly to the country to boost the Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.

The Guardian

A curious thing about Rodríguez is that he seems a bit slow but he changes gear when the opposition are least expecting it.

The Guardian - Sport

Greene told BBC Sport: "I knew he [Van Zyl] was the guy to watch out for but I always felt I had an extra gear to switch to when I wanted to and I did in the home straight.

The Guardian - Sport

Dan Dan noodles – her favourite – "were originally made by Chengdu street vendors who carried their gear around in a basket or barrel slung from either end of a bamboo shoulder pole, or 'dan' in Mandarin.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In a bid to avoid detection in the woods that surround the team's Bogliasco training facility, he had dressed up in full military camouflage gear.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The two successive top-lick curves on the course – where Senna and the day before, in a grim prophetic preface, Roland Ratzenberger died – have been significantly slowed by lower-gear chicanes and gravel traps.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to specific types of "gear", be precise. Instead of saying "camping gear", specify "tent", "sleeping bag", and "cooking stove" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "gear" as a generic term for all kinds of equipment. Choose more specific nouns like "equipment", "tools", or "supplies" when appropriate to provide more clarity to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The word "gear" functions primarily as a noun, referring to equipment or paraphernalia. It can also function as a verb, meaning to equip or adjust. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Travel

13%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Lifestyle

5%

Music

4%

Tech

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "gear" is a versatile term with several meanings, most commonly referring to equipment or apparatus used for a specific purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use in a wide array of contexts, particularly in news, travel, and sports. While very common, being mindful of the specific context and choosing more precise alternatives like "equipment" or "tools", can improve clarity. The term's widespread usage across various sources makes it a reliable and acceptable choice in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

equipment

Focuses specifically on the tools or items needed for a particular activity.

tools

Indicates implements used to perform a task.

apparatus

Refers to a complex set of equipment used for a specific purpose.

mechanism

Emphasizes the working parts of a machine or device.

paraphernalia

Refers to items associated with a particular activity or event, often one that is illegal or disreputable.

implements

Formal term for tools or instruments, emphasizing their function.

machinery

Highlights the collection of machines used in a process.

state of readiness

Describes being prepared or equipped for an event or task.

stuff

A more informal term for belongings or equipment.

in operation

Focuses on the functionality and working condition of a system.

FAQs

How to use "gear" in a sentence?

You can use "gear" to refer to equipment needed for a specific activity, like "hiking gear", or to describe the mechanical parts of a machine, like "shifting gears".

What can I say instead of "gear"?

You can use alternatives like "equipment", "tools", or "supplies" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "gear" or "gears"?

"Gear" is often used as a collective noun, but "gears" is appropriate when referring to multiple toothed wheels in a machine.

What's the difference between "gear" and "equipment"?

"Gear" often implies personal items or specific tools for an activity, while "equipment" is a more general term for things used for a particular purpose.