items

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'items' is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used as a plural noun to refer to individual objects or things. For instance, you might say: "I need to pick up some items from the store before dinner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Share a total of five items.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He steals from the houses he breaks into, but appears to take items, such as ornaments or jewellery, as 'mementos' rather than straightforward burglary.

The Guardian

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 11.12am ET16 12 Obama mentions a few budget items, including "the long-term obligations we have around things like Medicare and Social Security".

The Guardian

This selling of New Zealand items is a direct violation of New Zealand Protected Objects Act and might warrant further action by the New Zealand government," McAfee's report said.

The Guardian

"I would go home at the end of the day and see all the same news items on the television news.

The Guardian

But the bakery items remain the real stars.

The Guardian - Travel

It seems the BBC was being a trifle zealous on Thursday and this morning – worrying that editors would subvert the rules by impishly inserting Olympic coverage from the Velodrome into items about the GDP figures.

The Guardian

I suppose it's because while there are a lot more electric items in the home, I only have a gas fire, gas hob and the central heating boiler and water heater, most of which I've switched off since starting the experiment because of the warm weather.

The Guardian

The rise was lower than in previous years, but enough to overtake Marks & Spencer's entire UK revenue from non-food items.

The Guardian - Business

Luckily, there's a cheap and adorable way to make your budget stretch and show your friends and family how much you care: Christmas gift bundles, collections of cut-price items with a personal theme.

The Guardian

Our brains try desperately to keep abreast of them, but chronically fail – not surprisingly, since the number of items we can hold in working memory, it's been argued, may be somewhere around seven.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When listing a series of "items", ensure parallel structure in descriptions for clarity. For example, "The list included pens, paper, and a notebook."

Common error

Avoid using "items" when referring to abstract concepts or ideas. Instead of "items of discussion", use "topics of discussion" or "points of discussion".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "items" is as a plural noun, typically used to refer to a collection or set of distinct objects or things. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is common and correct in written English, as shown in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "items" functions as a plural noun referring to a collection of objects or things. As Ludwig AI states, this is a grammatically correct term widely used in various contexts. Its usage spans from general descriptions to more formal business contexts, making it highly versatile. While "items" is generally neutral, it's best to use more specific terms like "goods" or "articles" when precision is needed. Steer clear of using "items" for abstract concepts, opting for words like "topics" instead. With a frequency of "very common", it is a term that appears often, particularly in news media and business publications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

objects

Replaces "items" with a more general term for tangible things.

goods

Specifically refers to merchandise or products.

products

Specifically denotes manufactured goods.

articles

Similar to "items" but can also refer to written pieces.

belongings

Refers to personal possessions.

things

A very general term suitable in informal contexts.

effects

Often used in legal or formal contexts to denote possessions.

elements

Refers to components or parts of a whole.

commodities

Emphasizes the trade or economic aspect.

matters

Can refer to issues or topics under consideration.

FAQs

How do I use "items" in a sentence?

You can use "items" to refer to a collection of objects. For example, "Please gather all the "objects" from the table."

What can I say instead of "items"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "goods", "articles", or "things".

Is it correct to use "items" to refer to abstract concepts?

It's generally better to avoid using "items" for abstract concepts. Instead, use terms like "topics" or "points" for clarity.

What's the difference between "items" and "articles"?

"Items" generally refers to objects, while "articles" can refer to objects or written pieces. For example, "We sell various goods in our store" versus "The newspaper contains several interesting articles".