group of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "group of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a collection or gathering of people or things. For example, "The team was made up of a diverse group of scientists."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A group of pensioners?

Independent

A group of U.S.O.

The New Yorker

A group of helicopters.

The New York Times

"Good group of guys".

The New York Times - Sports

It's a group of guys.

The New York Times - Sports

A tiny group of individuals.

The New Yorker

A new group of "cardinals".

The Guardian

Melvis plus group of tourists?

The New York Times

The second group of astronomers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They're a group of lads.

Independent

A group of women wailed.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "group of", ensure the noun following "of" accurately describes the members of the group. For instance, "a group of students" clearly indicates the group consists of students.

Common error

Avoid using singular verbs with "group of" when the group members act individually. While "the group is" is correct for unified actions, use "the group are" when emphasizing individual actions within the group.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "group of" functions as a determiner phrase used to quantify or specify a collection of nouns. Ludwig AI examples show it preceding nouns such as "pensioners", "individuals", and "tourists".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Wiki

27%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science

12%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "group of" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to denote a collection of people or things. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is correct to use in written English across various contexts, ranging from news and media to encyclopedias and wikis. When employing this phrase, it's essential to ensure the noun following "of" accurately represents the group's members and to use verbs concordantly, acknowledging whether the group acts as a single entity or as individuals. While alternatives like "collection of" or "set of" exist, "group of" maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse communicative purposes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collection of

Replaces "group" with "collection", emphasizing the act of gathering.

set of

Uses "set" to denote a defined collection, often in a more formal or mathematical context.

cluster of

Suggests a closely packed or concentrated gathering.

batch of

Implies a quantity of items produced or handled at the same time.

assembly of

Highlights the act of bringing together individuals for a specific purpose.

body of

Often refers to a formal or organized group, such as a legislative body.

cohort of

Denotes a group of people sharing a statistical or demographic characteristic.

selection of

Emphasizes the act of choosing or picking items from a larger pool.

aggregation of

Refers to the process of combining elements into a larger whole.

accumulation of

Highlights the gradual gathering of items over time.

FAQs

How can I use "group of" in a sentence?

The phrase "group of" is used to describe a collection of people or things. For example, "A "group of friends" went to the movies" or "The scientist studied a "group of cells" under the microscope".

What are some alternatives to using "group of"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "collection of", "set of", or "bunch of".

Is it grammatically correct to say "group of people are" or "group of people is"?

Both can be correct depending on the context. Use "is" when referring to the group as a single unit (e.g., "The group of people is ready to start"). Use "are" when emphasizing the individual members (e.g., "The group of people are discussing their opinions").

What's the difference between "group of" and "team of"?

"Group of" is a general term for a collection of individuals or items. "Team of" specifically refers to a group working together towards a common goal, implying a level of collaboration and shared purpose.