group of four

USAGE SUMMARY

'group of four' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you're referring to a group of four people or things. For example, "The group of four got together to discuss their plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Each group of four forms one god.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And how uniform is any group of four New Yorkers?

The New Yorker

A group of four MIT students working on bitcoin were subpoenaed over a hackathon project.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Generally, each ET consisted of a group of four to twelve people.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Each group of four includes one team randomly selected from each pot.

The New York Times

Earnhardt came onto pit road, leading a group of four cars.

The New York Times - Sports

A group of four women, two white, two black, walked to the microphone to address Fariña.

The New York Times - Magazine

A group of four or five developers started working on Zeus in 2005.

MIT Technology Review

He had found what we had come here for: a group of four tailing redfish.

The New York Times - Travel

Thus a group of four might want to order five or six entrees to share.

The New York Times

Ferrets randomly assigned to different treatments by assigning a treatment to a group of four animals.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing entities, use this phrase rather than the word 'four' since it gives the sentence a more fluid feel.

Common error

Avoid using "group of four" when a more specific term like "quartet" (for music) or "foursome" (for golf) is more appropriate. Using the right term enhances clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "group of four" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It acts as a subject or object in a sentence, identifying a collection consisting of four entities. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

18%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "group of four" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to describe a collection of four entities. Ludwig confirms its correctness and widespread use across diverse contexts such as News & Media, Academia, and Science. While alternatives like "quartet" or "foursome" exist, "group of four" remains a clear and commonly understood choice. When writing, remember to use more specific terminology when relevant and to consider the context to maximize clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quartet

Replaces "group of four" with a single word, often used in musical or artistic contexts.

foursome

Implies a group of four people, often in a social or recreational setting.

set of four

Emphasizes the collection or arrangement of four items.

team of four

Suggests a group of four working together towards a common goal.

four individuals

Formally specifies that the group consists of four separate people.

a quadruple

Highlights the 'fourness' or a set in a numerical fashion.

collection of four

Generic replacement for describing any collection of four.

cluster of four

Highlights that the objects are close together.

batch of four

Indicates that the elements are processed as a group.

unit of four

Describes the group in the abstract.

FAQs

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

You can use "group of four" to describe a set of four people or objects. For example, "The "team of four" worked together to solve the problem", or "The restaurant offered a special discount for a "party of four"".

What are some alternatives to "group of four"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "quartet" (especially for musical groups), "foursome" (often in social settings), or simply "a "team of four"" if they are working together.

Is it ever incorrect to use the phrase "group of four"?

While grammatically correct, using "group of four" might be less elegant or precise than a more context-specific term. If describing a musical ensemble, "quartet" is better. If describing a golfing party, "foursome" is the preferred term.

What's the difference between "group of four" and "four people"?

"Group of four" implies a unit or a collection, whereas "four people" simply states the number of individuals. "Group of four" suggests they may be connected or acting together in some way.