habitation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "habitation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the act of living in a place or the place where someone lives. Example: "The ancient ruins were once a thriving habitation for a large community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The Senkakus' habitability is legally significant as "rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own" would not be in the 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) prescribed by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Economist

If any Martians did live there, they probably bore a passing resemblance to Earth-bound critters called chemolithoautotrophs: hardy, single-celled organisms that make use of chemical energy rather than sunlight and which are able to create complicated biological molecules from elemental ingredients.Evidence of habitability is not, of course, the same as evidence of habitation.

The Economist

Related: Biggest Women's World Cup to kick off in Canada amid surface tension At its heart lay a habitation soon to be named "Moncton".

The Guardian - Sport

After a short interval, another pair appeared, and constructed a habitation, chiefly with materials purloined from the other nests.

The Guardian

The narrative spirals outwards and backwards to evoke, first, a world without seasons or colour, then the emergence of plant and animal life, then the time of human habitation, ending with a series of "prospects" of Britain which I think are among the best 20th-century nature writing.

The Guardian - Books

Eschewing the staid, overly styled images of the genre, his blog (theselby.com) is as much about homeowners – their holey jumpers and all – as about their covetable apartments, houses and cabins, which are often filled with piles of books, artistic detritus and the normal signs of habitation.

The Guardian - Travel

And in Mumbai, India's most populous city, around 60% of its 12 million people live in slums – defined by the Census of India as being "unfit for human habitation" for a multitude of reasons.

The Guardian

The discovery of water deposits, he believes, means that in the coming decades there will be sustained habitation on the Moon and Mars.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

They know that the two parties don't much like each other, but agree on enough to make administrative co-habitation viable.

The Economist

The incumbent conservative president, Jacques Chirac, and the present Socialist prime minister, Lionel Jospin, awkwardly bedded together in a loveless "co-habitation" for the past five years, will probably each take a modest fifth or so of the vote in round one.

The Economist

None of these policies, though, is being marketed so aggressively as Sweden's policy of outlawing the purchase of sex.That Sweden should have developed Europe's toughest prostitution policies is odd, because the country used to be known for its liberal attitude to abortion, co-habitation and sex education.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "habitation" in formal or academic contexts when referring to the act of inhabiting a place or the place itself. It can add a sense of historical or geographical significance.

Common error

Avoid using "habitation" in everyday conversation or informal writing. Simpler words like "home" or "residence" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "habitation" is as a noun. It refers to either the act of inhabiting a place or the place of residence itself. Ludwig AI confirms that it follows standard grammar rules and is correctly used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "habitation" functions as a noun, denoting the act of inhabiting or a place of residence. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news, encyclopedic, and scientific contexts. While acceptable in many situations, it is best suited for formal writing or academic discussions. For everyday conversation, alternatives such as "home" or "residence" are generally more fitting. Understanding these nuances allows for effective communication and precise expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Residence

Focuses on the place where someone lives, emphasizing its legal or official status.

Dwelling place

Emphasizes the physical structure and its purpose as a shelter.

Place of abode

A more formal way of referring to where someone lives.

Inhabited area

Highlights the aspect of being populated or occupied.

Human settlement

Refers to a community or area where people live together.

Living quarters

Focuses on the space designated for living.

Domestic environment

Emphasizes the surroundings and conditions of living.

Occupied territory

Highlights the act of taking possession and living in an area.

Settled region

Refers to an area where people have established permanent homes.

Populated zone

Emphasizes the presence of a significant number of residents.

FAQs

How can I use "habitation" in a sentence?

You can use "habitation" to refer to a place of residence or the act of living somewhere. For example, "The earliest evidence of human "habitation" in that region dates back thousands of years."

What are some alternatives to "habitation"?

Alternatives to "habitation" include "residence", "dwelling", "home", or "settlement", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "habitation" and "habitat"?

"Habitation" refers to the act of living in a place or a place of residence, while "habitat" refers to the natural environment where an organism or population normally lives. They are related but distinct concepts.

What does "unfit for human habitation" mean?

"Unfit for human habitation" means that a place is not suitable or safe for people to live in, often due to poor conditions, health hazards, or structural issues. This is usually a formal or legal designation.