group of elephants

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "group of elephants" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a collection or assembly of elephants, often in a wildlife or zoological context. Example: "During our safari, we were fortunate to see a large group of elephants drinking at the waterhole."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

When we spot a group of elephants, Douglas-Hamilton executes a stomach-heaving turn to get a closer look.

The Guardian

Then came the afternoon when, on a hilltop, we spotted a group of elephants, including a pair of big tuskers, about a half mile away.

The New Yorker

He recalled driving around the park in December with a German tourist and his American wife when they came across a group of elephants acting much more aggressively than elephants here usually do.

The New York Times

He confirmed that a small group of elephants charged out one morning two years earlier, trampled the fields and nearby gardens, knocked down a few huts and then left.

The New York Times - Magazine

The most memorable commercial of that election season featured a group of elephants and donkeys, animated by the Disney studios, singing and dancing to a tune written by Irving Berlin, "I Like Ike".

Encyclopedia Britannica

We saw it a month ago where a group of elephants demonstrated compassion; but this time round, we're back to the basics of the jungle - hunt or be hunted.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

A day or two later, I wandered near a group of elephant seals wallowing at the edge of an Adélie colony, prompting two of them to slither rapidly away in panic and nearly crush to death several penguin chicks.

The New Yorker

The largest group of elephant VH genes is the VH4 family of clan II.

Plosone

They then played the recordings to 48 groups of elephants to see what happened.

The Economist

Groups of elephants follow traditional migration routes during the dry season from Central African Republic, through Chad to Cameroon.

The Guardian

Groups of elephants led by older matriarchs are more adept at locating and fending off predatory male lions.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "group of elephants", consider using the more specific term "herd" to convey a more accurate image of their social structure.

Common error

Avoid using excessively generic terms like "animals" instead of "elephants" when "group of elephants" is already specified. Maintain specificity for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "group of elephants" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as a subject or object within a sentence. It is used to identify a collection of elephants, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "group of elephants" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. While straightforward, it's often beneficial to consider using more specific terms like "herd" to enhance descriptive accuracy. Usage spans across various contexts, from news and media to scientific research. Although Ludwig confirms its acceptability, avoiding overuse of general terms and maintaining specificity contribute to clearer and more impactful writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

herd of elephants

Replaces "group" with "herd", a more specific term for a group of elephants.

collection of elephants

Substitutes "group" with the more general term "collection".

troop of elephants

Uses "troop", implying a more organized group.

pachyderm gathering

Uses "pachyderm", a more scientific term for elephants, and replaces "group" with "gathering".

a cluster of elephants

Replaces "group" with "cluster", suggesting a close gathering.

elephant aggregation

Replaces "group" with "aggregation", a more formal term.

elephants in company

A more formal replacement for "group", suggesting companionship.

elephants in a bunch

Uses a more informal and less precise term "bunch".

band of elephants

Suggests a close-knit, possibly nomadic group of elephants.

a parade of elephants

Implies a group of elephants moving in a line or procession.

FAQs

What is a more specific term for a group of elephants?

The term "herd of elephants" is often used, especially in wildlife contexts, to refer to a social unit of elephants.

How do I use "group of elephants" in a sentence?

You can use it as a subject, object, or part of a prepositional phrase. For example, "A group of elephants was seen near the river" or "Researchers studied the behavior of a group of elephants".

Is "group of elephants" formal or informal language?

The phrase "group of elephants" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though "herd of elephants" might be preferred in more scientific writing.

What is the difference between "group of elephants" and "populations of elephants"?

"Group of elephants" refers to a specific, observable gathering of elephants. "Populations of elephants" refers to the total number of elephants living in a particular region or area.