herd of sheep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "herd of sheep" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is used to describe a group of sheep that are kept together and tended to by a shepherd. Example: The shepherd counted his herd of sheep as they grazed peacefully in the green pastures.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

First photograph shows a herd of sheep.

Yale University

"They treated them like a herd of sheep," he said.

The New York Times

"They're not just like a herd of sheep".

The New York Times

"The Libyan people are not a herd of sheep.

The New York Times

There are loads of MPs who are like a herd of sheep.

The Guardian

We pedaled past a lavender farm, a herd of sheep in a pasture.

The New York Times - Travel

A herd of sheep moving over a green hill in what was probably Scotland.

The New Yorker

Oddly, a herd of sheep and goats crosses the road several times, right through the accident site.

The New York Times

On the last day of the Tour Du Mont Blanc, while coming over a high pass, I was confronted by this huge herd of sheep.

The Guardian - Travel

For Diaspora, Egoyan borrows Elia Kazan's footage of a burning Armenian church, intercut with footage of people fleeing and a herd of sheep on the move.

The Guardian - Film

In her childhood, the family kept six horses (one for each of the children), a herd of sheep, pet raccoons, deer, four dogs, two cats and a donkey.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a large group of sheep, consider using "flock of sheep" as it is often more familiar to readers than "herd of sheep".

Common error

Avoid using plural verbs with "herd of sheep" as it is a collective noun. Instead of saying "The herd of sheep are grazing", say "The herd of sheep is grazing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "herd of sheep" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It denotes a collective group of sheep, as confirmed by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "herd of sheep" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase to describe a group of sheep. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is descriptive, appearing mainly in neutral registers across various sources, notably News & Media. While "flock of sheep" might be a more common alternative, understanding the proper usage of "herd of sheep" enhances clarity in both writing and conversation. Remember to use singular verbs with the collective noun "herd" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flock of sheep

Replaces "herd" with "flock", a more common term for a group of sheep.

group of sheep

Uses the general term "group" instead of the more specific "herd".

gathering of sheep

Emphasizes the act of sheep coming together.

collection of sheep

Highlights the assembled nature of the sheep.

sheep aggregation

A more formal and scientific way to describe a group of sheep.

sheep assembly

Similar to "sheep aggregation" but slightly less formal.

drove of sheep

An older, less common term for a group of sheep being moved.

sheep contingent

Implies the sheep are part of a larger operation or group.

body of sheep

A less common but still acceptable synonym for a group.

sheep cluster

Focuses on the close proximity of the sheep.

FAQs

How to use "herd of sheep" in a sentence?

You can use "herd of sheep" to describe a group of sheep, such as "The shepherd watched over his "herd of sheep" in the pasture".

What can I say instead of "herd of sheep"?

You can use alternatives like "flock of sheep", "group of sheep", or "gathering of sheep" depending on the context.

Is "herd of sheep" grammatically correct?

Yes, "herd of sheep" is grammatically correct. "Herd" is a collective noun used to describe a group of animals, including sheep.

What is the difference between "herd of sheep" and "flock of sheep"?

While both terms refer to a group of sheep, "flock" is more commonly used, especially in general contexts, while "herd" is also correct but perhaps less frequently encountered.