go around in groups

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "go around in groups" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe people moving or socializing together in clusters. Example: "During the festival, attendees tend to go around in groups to enjoy the activities." Alternative expressions include "move in clusters" and "travel in packs."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mr. Hill remembers the quiet days when he and his friends could go around in groups as big as eight.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Go around in your group and have people help others depending on their job.

WikiHow

The solicitors went around in close-bunched groups, clutching the Companies Act, dressed as if they were contractually obliged to shop at Jack Wills.

The Guardian - Opinion

Despite its sporadic charm and captivating leading actor, "Grapevine" doesn't give viewers a good enough reason to follow this group as it goes around in circles.

The New York Times - Arts

It's still going around, in circles.

The New York Times

We were going around in the desert.

BBC

"I was going around in the lab going, 'Yay!

Science Magazine

It's kind of like you're going around in circles with him, and you didn't go very far.

BMC Palliative Care

- Pick someone at the dinner table to acknowledge, and then ask them to "pay it forward" and appreciate someone else in the group – go around until everyone has been appreciated.

Huffington Post

Sandy reflected on how the nature of her classroom changed when students were designing, becoming more engaged in the task, especially when others were being successful, "And then you'd see them going around at other groups".

International Journal of STEM Education

We then go around and briefly tell the others in the group what they are. 5. Next month's topic/book assignment.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the phrase after a subject to clearly define who is participating in the collective action, such as "students tend to go around in groups".

Common error

Avoid using "go around in groups" when you actually mean "go around the group". The former describes people moving together as a unit, while the latter refers to interacting with members of a group one by one, such as when sharing an opinion during a meeting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "go around in groups" functions as a complex predicate combining a phrasal verb with a prepositional phrase. According to Ludwig AI, the phrasal verb "go around" denotes movement within a space, while "in groups" provides the manner and structure of that movement. It is frequently used to describe human social habits or animal behavior.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "go around in groups" is a versatile and grammatically correct expression used to describe the collective movement or social behavior of people and animals. According to Ludwig AI, it is most prevalent in journalistic and instructional writing, where it often denotes a sense of safety or social organization. While its register is primarily neutral, it effectively transitions into scientific literature when describing biological clustering. Writers should be careful not to confuse it with "go around the group", which implies a sequential interaction rather than the simultaneous movement described here. Overall, it remains a high-frequency, reliable choice for depicting shared mobility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

move in clusters

Suggests a more irregular or organic formation than groups

travel in packs

Often used for animals or to imply a more aggressive or protective social dynamic

stick together in groups

Emphasizes the intention of remaining united while moving

circulate in bands

Implies a more mobile or transient nature of the group

congregate in packs

Focuses more on the act of assembly than the act of moving around

socialize in bunches

A more informal, casual way to describe people gathering

flock together

Uses a bird metaphor to describe large, similar groups of people moving together

walk in parties

An older or more formal way to refer to a group of people traveling together

patrol in pairs

Specifies the group size (two) and often implies a security or oversight purpose

gather in mobs

Carries a negative or disorganized connotation compared to groups

FAQs

How do I use "go around in groups" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a habit or instruction, such as "The tourists were advised to "go around in groups" for safety during the night."

What is a more formal way to say "go around in groups"?

In formal or scientific writing, you might prefer to use "move in clusters" or "travel collectively".

Is "go around in groups" the same as "travel in packs"?

While similar, "travel in packs" often carries a more informal or even predatory connotation, whereas "go around in groups" is neutral.

Can "go around in groups" refer to animals?

Yes, it is common in scientific literature to describe social animals that "socialize in groups" or move together for protection.